_ SANDGROUSE
Volume 21 (1) 1999
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
THE MIDDLE EAST
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF THE MIDDLE EAST
OSME
OSME was founded in 1978
as the successor to the
Ornithological Society of
Turkey. Its primary aims are:
= To collect, collate, and
publish data on all aspects —
_ of the birds of the
_ Middle East.
= To promote an interest
in ornithology and bird
~ conservation throughout
the Middle East.
® To develop productive
working relationships
with other governmental
~ and non-governmental
— organisations with an
_ interest in conservation
and/or natural history
in the region.
MEMBERSHIP
OSME is open to all, and its
membership spans over 40
countries.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
‘Individual £12
(£15 air mail outside Europe)
Family £15
(£18 air mail) for two, plus £3 for
each additional family member.
Supporting £24
Cover the subscription of a
national birdwatcher in the
region (£27 air mail). —
_ LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Individual £225
(£100 if 60 or over)
Family £300
for 2 members.
Please add £3 if payment is made
in non-sterling currency. For details
of payment by banker’s order, and
for any other information on the
Society, write to the Secretary at
the address below.
PUBLICATIONS
OSME publishes a scientific journal, Sandgrouse, containing
papers, news and features on all aspects of Middle Eastern
ornithology. Published twice yearly, it is issued free to
members. Further copies are available for sale from OSME.
MEETINGS
An Annual General Meeting is held in London at which guest
speakers provide new perspectives on ornithology in the
region. There are also occasional special meetings, some
taking place outside the UK.
PROJECTS
OSME organises field expeditions to collect data on birds in
little-known parts of the region and in areas where OSME can
assist by teaming up with local groups.
The Conservation & Research Committee grants funds to
valuable field projects and desk studies which further
knowledge and conservation of birds in the region. Grants
have been awarded to over 30 projects since the Conservation
& Research Fund was set up in 1982.
VICE PRESIDENTS:
Prof. Abdulaziz H. Abuzinada,
Sherif Baha El Din,
Shaika Noora Bint,
Isa Bin Sulman AI Khalifa,
B. Behrouzi-Rad,
COUNCIL AS AT APRIL 1999:
C. G. Bradshaw
Conservation & Research
A. Colston (co-opted)
R. Daniel (co-opted)
Librarian
P. Davidson
Information Officer
A. Grieve
Chairman
Dr D. Harvey
Features Editor, Sandgrouse
R. P. Martins (co-opted)
Turkey Bird Report
Dr Saeed Mohamed,
Anis Mouasher
Dr Omar Al-Saghier
Dr Yossi Leshem |
Richard Porter
D. Moore
Publicity
A. J. Morris
Secretary
O. Roberts
Membership
H. I. Scott (co-opted)
Publications Officer
F. E. Warr (co-opted)
Sales
J. Warr (co-opted)
Treasurer
© 1999 Ornithological Society of
the Middle East ISSN 0260-4736
Registered charity no 282938
c/o THE LODGE, SANDY, BEDEORDSHIRKE SG19 2DiE gas
OSME WEs site - http://www.osme.org
SANDGROUSE
Volume 21. (1)
Editor
Guy M. Kirwan
Features Editor
Derek Harvey
Assistant Editor
lan J. Andrews
Editorial Committee
Michael Blair,
Paul Goriup,
Ben Hoare,
Mike Jennings,
Rodney Martins,
Peter L. Meininger
& Dr Stephen Newton
Photographic Editor
Paul Doherty
Design & Production
Harry |. Scott
Identification Consultants
C. G. Bradshaw,
Arnoud B. van den Berg
& Steve Madge
Cover Photograph:
Small Skylark A/auda gulgula,
taken by Leo J. R. Boon
at Eilat, Israel.
OSME is grateful for sponsorship
from Julian Francis towards the cost of
printing the colour photographs inside
this issue.
10
36
45
Contents
OSME News
NEWS AND INFORMATION
REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION
PHOTOSPOT
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse HADORAM SHIRIHAI, REUVEN
YOSEF, PAUL DOHERTY & DAN ALON
PROFILE
Hadoram Shirihai Guy M. KIRWAN & RICHARD PORTER
PAPERS AND NOTES
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97 IAN J. ANDREWS, FARES
KHourRY & HADORAM SHIRIHAI
A checklist of the birds of Israel and Jordan
HADORAM SHIRIHAI, IAN J. ANDREWS, GUY M. KIRWAN
& PETER DAVIDSON
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and
documentation, with tips on identification
HADORAM SHIRIHAI
106 REVIEWS & RECENT LITERATURE
108 AROUND THE REGION Guy M. KIRWAN
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
ret ihe
Li
NEW COUNCIL MEMBER
Simon Busuttil has recently been co-opted as
OSME’s Country Co-ordinator, to develop a
network of regional representatives within the
region. It is envisaged that these in-country
contacts can keep OSME informed of conser-
NEWS
The aim of this section is to inform readers about
events in the OSME region. It relies on members
and others supplying relevant news and
information. If you have anything concerning
birds, conservation or development issues in the
OSME area please send it to News and
Information, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire SG19 201, UK
This section is not intended as a definitive report
or write-up of the projects concerned. Many of the
projects are sponsored; such support is appreciated
but is not generally given acknowledgement here.
GENERAL
Ramsar briefing paper available The UK
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB) has produced a Guide to the Ramsar
Convention which protects wetland sites. The
guide provides clear explanation of the
objectives, operations and instruments of the
2 .
ation developments within the region,
develop a list of ornithological projects and
surveys required in their country or region,
as well as recruiting new members and
providing a point of contact for exisiting
OSME members. Should you be interested in
being involved in this scheme, please write to
Simon Busuttil at OSME, c/o The Lodge,
Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL, U. K.
NEW ADDRESS FOR TURKEY BIRD
REPORT
You can now e-mail records to the Turkey
bird report. The address for submissions is:
turkishbirdreport@osme.org. Alternatively,
you can write to Guy Kirwan & Rodney
Martins, OSME, Turkey Bird Report, c/o The
Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL, U. K. The
latest report, covering the period 1992-1996,
is scheduled for publication in Sandgrouse 21
part 2. Should you have unsubmitted bird
observations from Turkey during this period
please contact the editors at one of the above
addresses as soon as possible.
INFORMATION
compiled by Simon Albrecht
convention. It is an invaluable reference tool
for those individuals and organisations
concerned with policy and lobbying on
wetland issues, with the aim of securing the
protection of important wetland sites and
their biodiversity. It is available from John
O’Sullivan, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds
SG19'2DL,-U. K. Vel: +44 ()il7676305o1-
(Source: BirdLife in Europe 3 (3)).
Slender-billed Curlew Working Group A
working group has been established to
maintain and enhance the conservation status
of the Slender-billed Curlew Numenius
tenuirostris. At present the database of
Slender-billed Curlew records is being
updated. 1998 records, some awaiting confir-
mation, include one in Morocco, several in
Greece and one in the U. K. Any observations
from the OSME area are urgently required.
Please send them either to OSME, or to Nic
Simon Albrecht
News & Information
eet, 9 European ~Division, BirdLife
International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road,
Cambridge CB3 ONA. E-mail:
nic.peet@birdlife.org.uk. (Source: BirdLife in
Europe 3 (3))
Syrian Serin report A report on the status of
Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in the Middle
East is being compiled in co-operation with
CMS/UNEP (Bonn Convention for the
Conservation of Migratory Species) and the
RSCN, Jordan. Serinus syriacus is the only
regular breeding bird species endemic to the
Near East where c. 2000 pairs are believed to
exist. Recent and unpublished observations,
or any information related to this species are
welcomed and will be acknowledged.
Information on breeding and wintering distri-
bution, especially in Syria and Lebanon, on
population trends at Mt. Hermon and conser-
vation problems are very useful, and should
be sent, as soon as possible, to Dr Fares
Rhoum, Dept. Ornithology, ZFEMK,
Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany, or
to fax: +96 265673199 (Jordan)
Winning Eriksens OSME members will need
no reminding of the extremely high standard
of bird photographs produced by Jens and
Hanne Eriksen. Further proof of their ability
came in this year’s Bird Photograph of the
Year competition, which is run annually by
the monthly journal British Birds. Jens took
first and second place with shots of a Sooty
Falcon Falco concolor and a Greenshank Tringa
nebularia. Jens also won the competition in
1997, whilst Hanne took first place in 1989
amd 1990. rhe fact that no-one had ever
achieved both first and second place before is
clear indication of the skill involved. Jens also
took equal seventh place with a wonderful
photo of a Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
Pterocles exustus. All three photos were taken
in Oman. OSME offer the society’s congratu-
Plate 1. Sooty
Falcon Falco
concolor,
Sultanate of
Oman, October
1997. Winner
British Birds
Bird Photograph
of the Year
1998. (Jens
Eriksen)
Simon Albrecht
lations on this marvellous achievement. The
Winning Sooty Falcon photograph is
reproduced below. For a further reminder of
Eriksen photographic quality, readers should
refer to the first issue of the revamped
Sandgrouse: the cover shot of a Chestnut-
bellied Sandgrouse perfectly captures this
classic desert bird. (Contributed by Paul
Doherty)
ISRAEL
Hula still threatened The Hula Swamp
Important Bird Area (IBA) is currently
threatened “by a proposed’ © tourism
development project. The Society for the
Protection of Nature in Israel has recently
appealed to the country’s supreme court
asking for an injunction to halt this potentially
disastrous scheme. (Source: World Birdwatch
20) (2): 5)
JORDAN
Welcome news from Azrag Since 1994 work
has been in progress to restore the famous
Azraq Wetland Reserve. The wetland had
been drying out due to excessive water
extraction from the underground aquifer that
feeds the area, and below ground fires which
spread through the dried peat soil. With
UNDP / GEF funds, water has been pumped
back into the wetlands, pools dredged and
enlarged, and plans are in progress to restore
some of the open water and low marsh
communities. A visitors’ centre is set to open
at Aztaq in late 1993 (Source: O1y7 32:
180-181)
SYRIA
Ramsar Convention ratified Syria became a
party to the Ramsar Convention in March
1998, when Lac de Sebkha al-Djabbul was
designated as its first Ramsar site. (Source:
World Birdwatch 20 (3): 3)
TURKEY
Biodiversity in the Konya basin A three-
month survey of biodiversity in the Konya
basin, undertaken by DHKD and funded by
Vogelbescherming Nederland and the Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), has
made a number of significant discoveries.
New breeding areas for White Pelican
Pelecanus onocrotalus, White-headed Duck
Oxyura leucocephala, Little Bustard Tetrax
tetrax, Great Bustard Otis tarda and Armenian
Gull Larus armenicus were discovered.
surveys Of.montane areas. produced
5
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
significant new data for Griffon Vulture Gyps
fulvus, Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus,
Caspian Snowcock Tetraogallus caspius and
Radde’s Accentor Prunella ocularis, and
discovered that Upcher’s Warbler Hippolais
languida was substantially more widespread
than previously supposed. Further details can
be found on. the “imtermet at:
http://www.gironet.nl/home/renevos/
konya/konya.htm. (Source: BirdLife in Europe
3 (3): 2 and G. Eken 1n litt. 1998)
Uluabat lake survey This Important Bird
Area (IBA) was designated as a Ramsar site in
April 1998. A survey of the area in spring
1998 found important heronries and 823 pairs
of Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus in
the area, as well as identifying a number of
threats to the lake’s ecosystem: over-fishing,
shoreline development and eutrophication
caused by agricultural run-off and urban
waste. In response, DHKD, the Turkish
Ministry for the Environment and the State
Water Works are collaborating to prepare a
managment plan for the area. The project also
aims to establish a Ramsar National
Committee, consisting of representatives
from relevant government ministries, local
authorities, NGOs and stakeholders, in order
to establish a legal frameowrk for multi-
sectoral planning. (Source: BirdLife in Europe 3
(3): 4-5)
Turna Turkey’s importance for birds is well
known, but to date there has been no Turkish
bird magazine. A new magazine from Turkey
about the birds of Turkey has recently been
launched. TURNA, the 48-page bulletin of the
Ornithological Council of Turkey (TOK), is a
twice-yearly periodical mix of news, papers,
notes, reviews and remarkable sightings. The
first issue includes papers and notes on
several subjects, including: Keeent
information on the occurrence of the
Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in
Turkey; Results of a survey of wintering
waterbirds along the Turkish Black Sea coast;
and Status and distribution of the Ring-
necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri in Turkey.
Both native and foreign scientists contributed
to the first issue. The magazine is sponsored
by NIKON and is kindly distributed by
DHKD (BirdLife partner in Turkey) and RSPB
(BirdLife partner in UK). For more
information contact: TURNA@wasp.bio.
metu.edu.tr
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Hunting ban Ras Al Khaimah, one of the
seven sheikhdoms of the United Arab
Emirates banned bird and hare Lepus capensis
hunting in August 1998. Penalties include
two days in jail for a first offender, and one
month in jail and seizure of equipment for
repeat offenders. No mention was made of
protection for birds’ eggs. Most hunting has _
traditionally been carried out by local
tribesmen and, in the past, quarry species
have included Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis
undulata and large raptors, which are believed
by local people to attack and occasionally kill
Saker Falco cherrug and Peregrine Falcons F.
peregrinus, species valued highly for falconry.
Species known to have been captured include
Black Vulture (the UAE’s first and only
record) and Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga. Ras
Al Khaimah is a ‘hot spot’ for migrant large
raptors during winter, including Golden
Aquila chrysaetos and Imperial Eagles A.
heliaca, some of which are believed to be shot
at occasionally, although there is very little
data. - An”. official= “anmsmmcement
accompanying the decree stated that the
hunting ban was intended to help preserve
local wildlife, and all police stations have
been instructed to enforce the ban. Much of
the hunting of raptors is, however, believed
to take place in remote mountain districts,
where tribesmen are unlikely to co-operate
quickly with the new ban, and where
enforcement is virtually impossible, as in
similar locations in other countries. (Source:
Peter Hellyer in litt. 1998)
Yemen: request for unpublished reports
Rod Martins and Richard Porter are
preparing a status report on Yemen’s birds
for publication in a future issue of Sandgrouse.
To assist them with this they would be
grateful to receive any unpublished reports
which will be fully acknowledged in the
write-up. Reports should be sent to: Richard
Porter, c/o BirdLife International, Wellbrook
Court, Girton Road, Cambridge, CB3 0NA,
U.K.
Simon Albrecht
|
|
The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Julian Francis
Photospot
“G
Lichtenstein’s ~
Sandgrouse
Do holdidaying at Eilat are almost
certain to have visited the local pumping
station where Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse
Pterocles lichtensteinii drink at dusk. (In Israel,
the species is limited to the Eilat region, but is
not accorded any importance by the local and
regional authorities. The International
Birdwatching Center is currently fighting to
save this area from being turned into a dog
pound. We urge birdwatchers who have
enjoyed watching these birds to protest in
writing to the Mayor of Eilat, requesting a
cessation of all development adjacent to the
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse drinking trough.).
This species is rarely seen in the day, and then
usually only a fleeting glance, so the pumping
station provides a rare opportunity to see the
species at its gregarious best.
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse is patchily
distributed from Mauritania east, through the
Sahara, to Somalia and thence through the
Middle East to west Pakistan, and south to
central Kenya. It is a true desert specialist,
being adapted to extreme xeric conditions,
but prefers bush-covered rocky or scrubby
habitats. The species is crepuscular in its
watering activities and the breast feathers are
the highest in their abilty to hold water in
comparison to seven other sandgrouse
species. Little is Known of its breeding
biology; the few nests ever discovered were
typically in the shade of a shrub or among
scattered trees or rocks. It is assumed that the
male provides water for the young, although
no direct observations exist.
Although only snapshots of its life history can
be obtained through observations at the water
trough, it is possible to procure clues to their
annual cycle. Based on year-round
observations, we have ascertained that
courtship (lek-like) occurs in January—-May
(mainly February—March), and fledglings
appear in August-September. Hence, largest
numbers are observed in late summer-—early
autumn (Shirihai 1996, Ihe birds of Israel).
Numbers are considerably lower during the
cooler October—February period, probably
due to reduced water requirement and
greater availability of alternative sources
owing to winter rain, dispersal, and reduced
survival rates of the young—the latter are
unstudied.
This a stocky, small-sized sandgrouse, with
short tail and rounded wings; the plumage is
generally pale and predominantly grey-buff
with close barring/vermiculations. In flight,
there is a typical (amongst sandgrouse)
striking contrast to the upperwing with darker
(brownish black) flight feathers, whilst the
underwing is almost concolorously dark grey-
brown. Males have a diagnostic buff-yellowish
breast traversed by two narrow black bars, one
across the centre and one separating the breast
and belly. Unlike other sandgrouse in the
region, it has a black-and-white striped
‘forehead mask’ and orange bill, and a
pronounced series of gold-buff wingbars.
Females, in contrast, are rather featureless and
greyer, with finer and closer spaced bars. They
lack most of male’s distinctive characteristics
including the breast bands, boldly decorated
black and buff scapular markings and
forehead pattern, but have a broad, pale
(greenish grey instead of yellow) area of bare
skin around the eye. The wingbars are formed
by bold whitish tips rather than the broad
white, buff and black bars of the male.
Juveniles largely resemble females, but,
compared to the adults, during the prolonged
complete post-juvenile moult, have only
partial or even no black-and-white facial
markings and reduced and faded wingbars,
scapular markings and breast bands.
Hadoram Shirihai, Reuven Yosef, Paul Doherty & Dan Alon .)
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Seven regular drinking spots are known
between Eilat and c. 65 km north of the town.
The principal sites are the Eilat pumping
station and the sewage tanks c. 10 km north
of Eilat where several tens of birds can be
observed. The estimated breeding population
in the 1980s was about 50-100 pairs (Shirihai
1996, The birds of Israel) and the population is
apparently slowly increasing due to the
increased number of available water sources.
=z
The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Julian Francis
Hadoram Shirihai, P. O. Box 4168,
Eilat 88102, Israel.
Reuven Yosef, International Birdwatching Center
Eilat, P. O. Box 774, Eilat 88000, Israel.
Paul Doherty, 28 Carousel Walk, Shoreburn-in-
Elmet, North Yorkshire LS25 6LP, U. K.
Dan Alon, Israel Ornithological Center, 155
Herzel Street, Tel Aviv 68101, Israel.
Plate 1. Female Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lictensteinii, in the hand, Israel. (Hadoram Shirihai)
Plate 2. Male Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lictensteinii, Knawr Rouri, Oman. (Hanne & Jens Eriksen)
6 Hadoram Shirihai, Reuven Yosef, Paul Doherty & Dan Alon
The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Julian Francis PhotoSpot
Aa
a
Ea)
a
“ 7 ‘
oe 7
. . .
a \ oe
Plate 3. Female Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lictensteinii, Eilat, |srael, December. (Arie de Knijff)
Hadoram Shirihai, Reuven Yosef, Paul Doherty & Dan Alon
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999 The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Julian Francis
ZB Z ZZ ZB 2 aA = =F ES c
Plate 4. Male and female Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lictensteinii, Eilat, |srael, December. {Arie de Knijff)
z ee = =
Plate 5. Male Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lictensteinii, Eilat, Israel, December. (Arie de Knijff)
8 Hadoram Shirthai, Reuven Yosef, Paul Doherty & Dan Alon
Profile
: t is hard to find original things to say about
) 1 e Hadoram Shirihai. Put simply, he is the foremost
ornithologist of the Middle East with a history of
original publications which is the envy and
admiration of many.
Shirihai was, in many ways, in the right place at the
right time. Following several years of avifaunal
studies in the Jerusalem area, Hadoram moved to
Eilat in 1980 at a time when the area was beginning to
be recognised as one of the most exciting migration
watchpoints and vagrant hotspots in the Western
Palearctic. Ever increasing numbers of West European
birders, among them many of the leading omithol-
ogists of modern times were to come into contact with
a young Israeli birder of inquistive mind and with an
enviable list of discoveries, and many original ideas
concerning bird migration, identification and
taxonomy. Hadoram also conducted extensive studies
of, migrant raptors in the area, founded the
International Birdwatching Center and played a
leading role in the Eilat ringing station.
During the past ten years his contribution to the
ornithology of the Western Palearctic has been
immense: numerous keynote identification papers
published in leading journals, culminating in his co-
authorship, with David Christie and Alan Harris, of
The Macmillan birder’s guide to European and Middle
Eastern birds; a comprehensive avifaunal survey of his
homeland, The birds of Israel, which must be regarded
as one of the most splendid avifaunas of modern times
(and was awarded ‘Best Book of the Year’ by Birdwatch
and British Birds); and an on-going monograph of the
Sylvia wablers. To write one classic book in a lifetime
can fairly be regarded as impressive, but to have
almost completed a third borders on the unfair! In
addition, he has found time to make a living,
principally as a tour guide in Israel and abroad, partic-
ularly in Turkey, Sinai and Ethiopia.
Hadoram is currently working for the Society for the
Protection of Nature in Israel and the International
Birdwatching Center Eilat on a project to protect
desert habitats, particularly those important for
Arabian Warbler, Hoopoe Lark, Nubian Nightjar and
Houbara Bustard. For the first-named organisation,
he is also working to protect wintering populations of
Greater Spotted and Imperial Eagles in Israel.
Widely féted by his colleagues abroad, Hadoram has
accomplished what many would regard as a lifetime’s
work at 36. Nonetheless few that know him suspect he
has the capacity for rest, and we therefore look forward
to many more illuminating and groundbreaking contri-
butions in the future, including a recently commenced
cooperative project with Cees Roselaar, the Handbook of
Palearctic Geographical Variation.
Guy M. Kirwan and Richard Porter
Guy M. Kirwan and Richard Porter 9
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 10-35 1999
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
IAN J. ANDREWS, FARES KHOURY AND HADORAM SHIRIHAI
HIS FIRST JORDAN BIRD REPORT, has been compiled by IJA in cooperation
with FK and HS. Significant records submitted to IJA or OSME, since the
publication of Andrews (1995) in March 1995, are listed. The report covers 1995-1997,
but some previously unpublished reports from earlier years are included.
The number of birdwatchers visiting Jordan remains very low (less than five groups
per year). Nonetheless, there are still gaps in our knowledge, and our understanding
of Jordan’s bird fauna advances slowly. Several major surveys underaken by the
Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) have added substantially to our
knowledge of the Dana (RSCN 1995a,b, 1997a,b) and Wadi al Mujib Reserves (RSCN
1996). In 1996, surveys were undertaken in the proposed Rum Reserve, Al Karak
Governorate and at Petra. Selected results of on-going research by Durham University
in the north-east desert (Badia) area are included, but this work has yet to be
published in full.
Israel and Jordan share a border along the Jordan River and through Wadi Araba to
the Gulf of Aqaba. Knowledge of the avifauna of the Jordanian side is limited due to
poor coverage and restricted access. Records from four geographic areas are included
here as they are directly relevant to Jordan (HS): (a) birds seen in the Gulf of Aqaba
(from Eilat) over or on Jordanian waters, (b) birds seen over the border fence in Aqaba
(from Eilat), (c) birds seen on the east bank of the Jordan River (from Israel) and (d)
birds seen in Wadi Araba between the 1949 Armistice Line and the limit of Israeli
military advance in 1968-70. The latter is an area of 344 km* which was returned to
Jordan in October 1994 as part of the Jordan—Israel Peace Treaty (Fig. 1). It has been
decided to include species seen in categories a to c (above) on the Jordan List, but
with the caveat that they were only seen from adjacent territory and with the proviso
that the record must be accepted by the Israeli Rarities and Distribution Committee.
All visitors are encouraged to submit trip reports to IJA at the address at the end of
this paper, since these can still add significantly of our understanding of the country’s
avifauna. It is hoped to compile a second Jordan Bird Report in the future.
SYSTEMATIC LIST
The introductory paragraph for each species summarises its status in Jordan (based on
Andrews 1995). Selected records for 1995-97 are listed. Where all available 1995-97 records are
given, the species is marked with an asterisk (*). All records refer to singles unless otherwise
stated. Records of birds seen in Jordan from Israel are marked (I). Observers’ initials are given
in parentheses for more important records.
*Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica
1987-88: Aqaba (I) 10 Nov—16 Mar.
This bird was seen in Jordanian waters several times during its stay off Eilat (Shirihai 1996). The first
record in Jordan.
*Atlantic Petrel Pferodroma incerta
1982: Aqaba (I) 31 May.
1989: Aqaba (I) 18-24 Apr (van der Schot 1989).
Both birds were seen from Eilat (Shirihai 1996) and in Jordanian waters (HS). The first and second records
in Jordan.
*Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis
1997: Aqaba (I) 25 Mar (E. Hirschfeld, HS et al.).
This bird flew from Aqaba to Eilat (Shirihai 1999). The first record in Jordan.
10 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
|
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
*Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas
1992: 2-3, Aqaba (I) 21 Jun—18 Sep (Plate 1).
1993: Aqaba (I) early May-summer.
Both Eilat records (Morgan & Shirihai 1992, Shirihai 1996) concerned birds seen from Israel commuting
near-daily between Israeli and Jordanian waters. The first and second records in Jordan.
*Pale-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes
1980: Aqaba (I) 15 Aug (HS).
This bird, seen from Eilat (Shirihai 1996), was also in Jordanian waters. The first record in Jordan.
*Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus
Variable numbers occur in the northern Gulf of Agaba in spring.
1993: Agaba 28 Apr (MIE).
1995: Aqaba 19-20 Apr (IJA, NSR).
1996: Agaba 9 Apr (IJA).
The 4—6th records in Jordan. All Israeli records since 1978 refer to birds also seen in Jordanian waters. For
status in northern Gulf of Aqaba see Shirihai (1996).
*Wilson’s Petrel Oceanites oceanicus
1983: Aqaba (I) 1 Jun.
This Eilat sighting (Shirihai 1996) was also seen in Jordanian waters. The first record in Jordan.
*Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
1983: 2, Aqaba (I) 5 Jul.
These birds seen off Eilat (Shirihai 1996), also flew over Jordanian waters. The first record in Jordan.
*Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
Occurs in variable numbers in the northern Gulf of Aqaba, probably throughout the year.
1995: Aqaba 26 Jan.
1996: 2, Aqaba 12 Feb, up to 4, 5-8 Dec (IJA).
1997: Aqaba 16 Feb, 14 and 21 Mar, 8-9 and 21 Apr.
First winter (Dec—Feb) records.
*Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Scarce winter and spring visitor to Aqaba and Azraq.
1996: 20+ northern Jordan and Yarmouk Valleys 18 Feb (Fk).
In winters 1990-97, 8-23 birds wintered in Eilat and Aqaba waters (HS).
*Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
1997: immature male, Aqaba (I) 1 Dec (RR, JMR).
The first record in Israel, Jordan and the Western Palearctic.
*Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Rare winter visitor to Azraq and the Jordan River Valley.
1996: released into Jordan (1) (from Eilat) 23 Apr (RAB).
Little Bittern [xobrychus minutus
Uncommon passage migrant in spring, fewer in autumn. Rare away from Azraq, where formerly bred.
1985: pair Jordan River during Jun (behaviour suggested breeding), and family parties at two sites 2 Jul
(HS).
1996: immature, Dyke 10 wetland, As Safi 4 Dec.
First proof of breeding away from Azraq and first winter record.
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Uncommon migrant.
1989: a colony of a few hundred pairs in Kefar Ruppin area (Israel) (Plate 2) with nests on both sides of
the Jordan River (HS). The first breeding record in Jordan.
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Fairly common migrant. Formerly bred Azraq.
1989: a few pairs nested on both sides of the Jordan River in Kefar Ruppin area (Israel) (HS).
1995: 2-5 pairs, Azraq until mid-Jun, then 20 immatures (Khoury 1996).
1996: 3 including an apparent pair in breeding plumage, Sahl as Suwwan 14 Jun; Ghor as Safi 2 Jul (MIE).
| lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai i
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Fairly common non-breeding resident in the Jordan Valley; passage migrant elsewhere. Summer records
away from the Jordan Valley are presented.
1989: 1Cs of pairs nested on both sides of the Jordan River in Kefar Ruppin area (Israel) (HS). The first
breeding in Jordan.
1996: 2 in breeding plumage, Sahl as Suwwan 14 Jun, 4 on 12th; Ghor as Safi 2 Jul (MIE).
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Common non-breeding resident, with largest numbers on spring passage.
1989: a colony of a few hundred pairs, Kefar Ruppin (Israel) (Plate 3) spread to both sides of the Jordan
River (HS). The first breeding in Jordan.
*Great White Egret Egretta alba
Scarce winter visitor and spring migrant at Azraq, Agaba and Jordan Valley.
1996: Dyke 10 wetland, As Safi 2 Jul (MIE). The first summer record in Jordan.
In 1990-97, 10-17 birds wintered in Eilat/ Aqaba waters, often roosting at Aqaba sewage works (HS).
*Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
1987: Aqaba (I) 19 Oct-15 Dec.
This bird occasionally visited the Eilat salt ponds (Shirihai 1996), but spent most time in ‘Aqaba (HS). The
first record in Jordan.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Scarce passage migrant which formerly bred at Azraq.
1989: a few pairs bred on both sides of the Jordan River (HS).
1995: a pair probably bred Azraq, juvenile seen later (Khoury 1996).
*Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
1977: Aqaba 23 Mar (Kinzelbach 1986).
The first record in Jordan which also appeared in Israel (Shirihai 1996).
*Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
1996: Aqaba sewage works (I) 18 Apr (RAB).
The first record in Jordan. No description available.
*Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Three records in 1983-91, all in Apr at Azraq.
1995: Aqaba sewage works 19 Apr.
1996: Aqaba sewage works 11 Apr.
1997: 4, Aqaba sewage works 4 Oct, 2 on 24 Oct. The first autumn records.
*Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Scarce winter visitor to Azrag, Dead Sea and Aqaba.
1995: Azraq 7 Apr (FK).
*Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus
1988-89: Aqaba (I) 18 Nov-17 Jan.
This bird was first seen at Eilat (Shirihai 1996), but during its stay the bird was mostly observed in Aqaba
(from Eilat) (HS). The first record in Jordan.
*White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Two records at Azraq: in 1979 and 1991.
1986-87: Aqaba Dec-—Feb (Plate 4).
This bird commuted almost daily between Eilat and Agaba (HS). The third record in Jordan.
*Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
1993-94: 2-3, Aqaba (I) Nov—Feb.
These birds were sometimes seen in Aqaba from neighbouring Israel (HS). The first record in Jordan.
Shirihai (1996) quotes Hardy (1946) and W. K. Bigger (private notes of 1918-43) that it was “a very rare
winter visitor [in Israel] also recorded at Aqaba”. However, Hardy (1946) only gives the vague statement
that it “occasionally visits Gulf of Aqaba”.
*Greylag Goose Anser anser
A rare winter visitor to Azraq.
1994-5: photographed at Aqaba sewage works in winter (JR).
2 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
|
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
*Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelianus
1997: female, Aqaba sewage works 9-10 Apr (Bashford 1997).
The first record in Jordan.
*Gadwall Anas strepera
Scarce winter visitor to Azraq.
1995: 4, Ghadir Burqu’ 31 Dec (MIE, SAM).
1996: 2, Aqaba sewage works 5 Dec (IJA).
No previous December records.
*Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
1983: pair, Aqaba (I) 4-8 Jan.
These birds off Eilat (Shirihai 1996) were also seen in Jordanian waters (HS). The first record in Jordan.
*White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
1987-88: 2, Aqaba (I) Dec—Feb.
These birds frequented ponds near the Israel/Jordan border (Shirihai 1996). When disturbed they
occasionally flew over Jordanian territory (HS). The first record in Jordan.
Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
1995: adult male, Kibbutz Lotan, Israel 13 May; flew into Jordan. The first record in Jordan.
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Common passage migrant particularly along the Rift Margins in spring.
1996: few resembling M. m. lineatus in Apr (RvdV); immature, Disi 7 Dec.
1997: one resembling M. m. lineatus, Petra 20 Apr (RBB, KLE).
Those birds resembling M. m. lineatius occurring in Israel (and presumably also in Jordan) may belong to
an eastern population of M. m. migrans where the two subspecies intergrade (Shirihai 1996).
*Red Kite Milvus milvus
Status uncertain due to confusion with rufous Black Kites. Only three published records and probably
only a rare winter visitor (Shirihai 1996).
1996: 3+, between Al Qatrana and Al Husayniyya 14 Mar (FK).
The only recent record.
*Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus
Formerly bred in several Rift Margin wadis and on Jabal Umm Ishrin. Paucity of recent sightings suggests
it may be extinct.
1985: Aqaba (I) 3 Apr.
This bird, seen at Eilat (Shirihai & Christie 1992), later flew into Jordan (HS).
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Probably breeds in small numbers in the Rift Margins and Rum Desert, but no proof since single nest in
1960s. Passage birds occur in spring and autumn.
1995: lone adults occasionally seen Wadi Araba, Wadi Dana and Wadi al Mujib in Jul-Aug (MIE).
1996: pair displaying, Wadi al Mujib late Feb—mid-Mar, then 1 Apr-May; adult, Jabal Sua’yfan Kabir, Disi
12 Jun; pair and sub-adult, Jabal Umm Ishrin 16 Jun (MIE).
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
Formerly bred in several Rift Margin wadis, but only the colony in Wadi Dana probably remains.
Wanderers occur elsewhere in the Rift Margins and the interior desert. All records away from Dana are given.
1995: 6-7+ active nests, Wadi Dana (RSCN 1995b). First proven breeding for many years, although
suspected at Wadi Dana. 11 roosting, Zarqa River valley 31 Mar (FK); Disi 19 Apr; 1-2, Wadi Shuqeiq
(Wadi al Mujib Reserve) 2-20 Dec.
1996: Umm Qays 5 Apr; Wadi al Mujib 5 Apr; Petra 11 Apr; 4, Mukawir 9 May; 2, north of At Tayyiba and
1, north of Ash Shawbak 8 Dec.
1997: 4 active nests in one area, Wadi Dana 20 Feb (IJA).
*Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus
Only one published record, in 1963, but may have formerly bred in Wadi Araba.
c.1953—-55: nest probably of this species in acacia, Wadi al Khrayjiyah, east of Wadi Tasan springs (Evans
& Al-Mashagbah 1996).
1980s: many birds flew between Israel and Jordan in Wadi Araba (HS).
1986: a very old nest was found between Iddan—Hazeva (now Jordan) (HS).
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai 13
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
Little breeding data, but thought to breed in small numbers in the Northern Highlands, Southern Rift
Margins and Rum Desert. Fairly common on passage along the Rift Margins and in the interior desert
1985: pair with fledgling, few km north of Damiya (I) in Jul (HS).
1995: 3 pairs bred, Wadi Dana (MIE).
Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus
Rare spring and fairly common autumn migrant, especially in eastern areas in Sept.
1996: apparent pair frequenting wheat prairie in Faqu’ area late Apr—early May (MIE). In possible
breeding habitat, although not known to breed nearer than Turkey.
*Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
Rare spring migrant, with only c.5 records 1963-1994. True status uncertain, due to potential confusion
with Sparrowhawk A. nisus.
1995: Dana 27 Feb and 10 Mar (MIE); Petra 17 Apr (NSR).
1997: Petra 20 Mar (RBB, KLE); near Qattafi 1 Apr (RMW).
Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus
Abundant on spring and autumn migration, particularly along the Rift Margins in late Mar and early
Apr. Few may overwinter.
1996: 40,000 in one hour, Aqaba 1 Apr (RvdV). An exceptional count, even by Eilat standards.
1997: 1 resembling B. b. menetriesi, Azrag 14 Mar (RBB, KLE). However, B. b. menetriesi, from the
Caucasus, closely resembles the fox-red or dark morph of B. b. vulpinus and may be inseparable from it in
the field (Shirihai 1996).
*Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
Vagrant with four records in spring and autumn.
1996: 3 adults Dana 7 Feb (FK); Ash Shawbak 8 Feb (FK).
The 5-6th records and first (not unexpected) winter records.
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
Regular winter visitor in significant numbers to at least the Eastern and Basalt Deserts. Passage also
recorded in several areas.
1995: 15-20 roosting on pylons between Ar Ruwayshid and Iraqi border 31 Dec (MIE, SAM). This
unprecedented count involved 8-10 adults, 1-3 sub-adults and 6-7 juveniles.
Also suggestion of additional wintering area at Disi (records in 1996-1997).
Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii
Single pair resident and breeds in the Rum Desert, with sightings at Feinan suggesting a further resident pair.
1995: adult, Feinan 3 Apr (MIE). Same site as 1994 records.
Only record away from traditional site at Wadi Rum.
Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus
About 10 pairs breed in the Central and Southern Rift Margins. Rare elsewhere.
1995: 3 pairs bred raising 3 young, Wadi Dana (RSCN 1995b).
1996: unoccupied, large stick-nest, almost certainly of this species, in a wadi draining into the Dead Sea;
immature, near Ghor Fifa 2 Jul; pair, Dyke 10 wetland, As Safi 4 Dec.
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
A localised summer visitor, breeding in several small colonies along the Rift Margins. Also occurs as a
spring and late autumn migrant. Khoury & Al-Mahasneh (1997) estimate 100-300 pairs in Jordan.
1995: 24-28+ pairs breeding in 5+ colonies, Dana Reserve (RSCN 1995b), these had migrated by late Jul (MIE).
1996: c. 40, north of Madaba 1 Mar (FK); 25+, north of Faqu’ 22 Mar (RSCN 1996), c. 15-20 pairs breeding,
Wadi al Mujib Reserve (M. A. Yousef pers. comm.); pair nesting, Al Bayda, Petra 6 Apr (IJA).
1997: 26-28+ pairs breeding, Dana Reserve, 3+ at Busayra and 13 at Ash Shawbak (RSCN 1997b); 10+,
Wadi Araba near Fidan 4 Apr.
*Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus
Rare migrant to Azrag and the Southern Rift Margins.
1996: Aqaba (I) 16 Apr (RAB).
*Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae
Five previous spring records in 1987-93.
1995: Azraq 14 Jun (Khoury 1996).
1996: Agaba (I) 25 Apr (RAB).
i
14 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihat |
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
*Saker Falcon Falco cherrug
Status uncertain, but few available records refer to birds on spring passage. Potentially also a winter
visitor to the interior deserts.
1995: confiscated juvenile female (originally from Iraq), released Shaumari (per MIE).
1996: Ar Rashadiyya 9 Oct (DRM).
1997: north of Wadi Dahal, Wadi Araba 26 Mar (RSCN 1997a).
*Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Status unclear, due to confusion with Barbary Falcon F. pelegrinoides. Published records indicate scarce
wintering and passage in the interior deserts.
1994: Dana 24—25 Oct (RSCN 1995a, RFP).
1996: Dana 5 Oct (DRM).
1997: north of Aqaba 23 Mar (RBB, KLE).
First records away from the eastern deserts.
Chukar Alectoris chukar
Fairly common resident of the Rift Margins and adjacent highlands. A few also occur in the Eastern and
Basalt Deserts. Locally endangered, or even extinct, due to hunting and egg collecting (Sutari 1996).
1995: 2, Wadi Rajil dam 16 Feb; 25 km west of Azraq 11 May (MIE); 32, Feinan 18 May; 43 pecans west of
Faqu’ 28 Nov; 800+ pairs estimated breeding, Dana Reserve (Fk).
1996: 2, near As Safawi 3 Apr.
Sand Partridge/See-see Ammoperdix heyi/ A. griseogularis.
1997: pairs noted Wadi Selma (3), wadi near Qattafi (1) and Wadi Qattafi (2) in late Mar-early Apr
(RMW); pair with 8+ young, Wadi Selma 28 Apr (RL).
Further research is necessary to clarify the identity of the Ammoperdix partridges that occur in the Basalt Desert.
*Corncrake Crex crex
Scarce spring migrant. One autumn record.
1994: 2 dead, Agaba marine station in autumn (per MIF).
*Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio
No previous records, although mentioned for the Jordan Valley in 1898.
1989: oversummering bird at Bet Shean (Israel) was seen several times on both sides of the Jordan River
(HS). The first record in Jordan.
Coot Fulica atra
Suspected of breeding at Azraq in the past. Otherwise a common winter visitor to Azraq and Aqaba, and
in Rift Margin wadis.
1995: 1576, Azrag 11 Feb (MIE); 8-15 pairs each with 4-5 young, Qa’ al Azrag (Khoury 1996). First
confirmed breeding in Jordan, although considered likely at Azraq in the 1960s (Nelson 1973).
Common Crane Gris grus
Locally abundant winter visitor to the Eastern Desert especially around Azraq. Small numbers are also
reported on passage in the Rift Valley and its margins.
1995: 4, west of Faqu’ 2 Dec; 4, south of Al Qadissiya 7 Dec (FK). First records for the Southern Highlands.
*Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo
1995: Aqaba sewage works (I) 20-21 Mar (KM, PB, DMJ, KBW et al.).
The first record in Jordan. Description available.
*Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata )
Formerly widespread and not uncommon, but brought almost to extinction by indiscriminate hunting.
Few confirmed reports since 1979.
1980s: up to four wintered in the Qa’ Saidiyin and Yotvata area and often flew into Jordan when
disturbed (Shirihai 1996).
1995: tracks regularly found on 25% of transects in Wadi Araba during gazelle survey in Jul-Aug (T.
Wacher and J. Boef per MIE).
1996: central Wadi Araba early May (RSCN ranger per MIE); reported by locals, Buq’awiyya Oct (per MIE).
1997: Basalt Desert 30 km north-east of As Safawi 1 May (RL).
Great Bustard Otis tarda
The occurrence of Great Bustard in Jordan (Shirihai 1996) is probably based on old and undocumented
records, and therefore best considered as unconfirmed until more evidence is forthcoming (HS).
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai 15
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
*Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
A rare spring migrant to Azraq and Aqaba.
1996: Aqaba south beaches 6—7 Dec (IJA).
The first winter record.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Breeds commonly in wet years at Qa’ al Azraq, and possibly elsewhere. Also a common migrant,
especially in spring.
1996: 27 including 5 half-grown young, Dyke 10 wetland, As Safi 2 Jul (MIE). The first breeding away
from Azraq. 2, Aqaba sewage works 5 Dec. The first winter record.
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Breeds in small numbers at Azraq after wet winters, also occurs there on passage. Rather scarce
elsewhere. Few winter records.
1995: 105, c.30 paired and displaying, Qa’ al Buq’awiyya 16 Apr (RFP); 4+ pairs probably bred Qa’ al
Azraq, flocks of up to 60 including juveniles later (Khoury 1996).
*Crab Plover Dromas ardeola
1987: 4, Agaba (I) 19 Jul (Shirihai 1996).
The first record in Jordan.
Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
A scarce migrant breeder in the Eastern Desert and Northern Steppes. Migrants also scarce.
1995: 15-20, Qasr al Hallabat 12 Nov (CB).
1996: 2, mouth of Wadi al Mujib 5 Jan. The first winter record. 3, mouth of Wadi Ibn Hamad (Ghor
Mazra’a) 26 Jun. Not previously noted in the Southern Ghor in the breeding season.
*Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
Only seven records 1980-93.
1980: Azrag 2 May (Kappes & Kappes 1981).
1983: Azraq 27 Apr (Wittenberg 1983).
1995: photographed, Aqaba sewage works 19 Apr (IJA). Eighth record.
The 1980s records were inadvertently omitted from Andrews (1995).
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
Breeds in small numbers on flooded desert mudflats. Otherwise a common migrant, especially in spring
at wetlands and Aqaba.
1996: 2, Aqaba south beaches 7 Dec. The first December record.
*Dotterel Charadrius morinellus
An uncommon winter visitor to the Eastern Desert and possibly elsewhere.
1988-89: 4 wintered, Qa’ Saidiyin (HS).
1995: west of Faqu’ 3 Dec (MIE). The first record in this area since those seen by Tristram (1873).
*Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
A scarce passage migrant in Apr-May and once in Aug.
1997: Aqaba sewage works 5 Dec (IJA); 3 Aqaba south beaches 6 Dec (IJA). The first winter records.
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Common passage migrant especially at Azraq and Al Khirba as Samra. Formerly abundant winterer at
Azraq, very few in recent years.
1996: Dyke 10 wetland, As Safi 2 Jul (MIE), 100 on 4 Dec (IJA). The first summer record at possibly
Jordan’s only wintering site.
*Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
Scarce on passage and in winter, mainly at Azraq.
1995: Qa’ al Buq’awiyya 15 Apr (RFP).
1996: 2, Suwayma 5 Apr (RvdV).
*Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura
1984: Aqaba (I) 3 Nov.
A bird seen and trapped at Eilot, Israel (Shirihai 1996) was once flushed over the border fence to Jordan
(HS). The first record in Jordan.
16 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
*Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Two records from Azraq: in Oct 1968 and Jan 1979.
1995: 2, Dana 27 Feb, 11-15 Mar (MIE). Both records were in dense Juniperus woodland on steep hillsides.
1997: Petra 18 Mar (RBB, KLE).
Three additional records, the first from the Southern Rift Margins.
*Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Four records from Azraq and Aqaba.
1996: Aqaba sewage works 11 Apr (IJA), Aqaba (I) 2 May (RAB).
Fifth and sixth records.
*Curlew Numenius arquata
A rare migrant to wetland sites in spring and autumn.
1995: Azraq 11 Apr (NSR).
1996: Aqaba sewage works 11 Apr (IJA); Ghor Mazra’a 27 Jun (MIE). The first summer record.
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Scarce migrant between Apr and Oct.
1995: 36, Qa’ al Buq’awiyya 16 Apr. Highest count since 1960s.
1997: 2, Qa’ al Azraq 14 Mar.
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Fairly common passage migrant.
1996: Aqaba sewage works 6 Dec. The first winter record.
1997: Shuna Resr. 30 Mar. Earliest date.
*Turnstone Arenaria interpres
A scarce migrant, mainly in autumn.
1997: Aqaba sewage works 15 May (FK).
*South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki
1983: Aqaba (I) 3-6 Jun.
This bird, seen from Eilat (Shirihai 1996), was also seen in Jordanian waters. The first record in Jordan.
*Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii
1989: first-summer, Aqaba (I) 29 Apr.
This bird remained off Eilat 29-30 Apr (Shirihai 1996) but was also seen on the Aqaba side of the Gulf.
The first record in Jordan.
White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus
Small numbers occur in the Gulf of Aqaba in spring and autumn (at least).
1995: 3, Aqaba 26 Jan. The first winter record. 10 adults Aqaba port 2 Jul. Confirmation that birds summer.
*Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus
A rare migrant to Agaba and Azraq in Apr.
1996: 3, Aqaba 12 Feb (JH, HB); 2, Aqaba sewage works 5 ‘Des (IJA). The first winter records (see below).
1997; 2, Aqaba sewage works 16 Feb, 3 on 22nd (IJA); 2, Qa’ al Azraq 14 Mar (RBB, KLE); 4, off Aqaba (I)
25 Mar, 2 on 29th (MG); 4, Aqaba sewage works 15 May (Fk).
*Little Gull Larus minutus
Three records at Aqaba and Azraq in Apr, Sep and Oct.
1996: Aqaba (I) 20 May (RAB).
1997: second-winter, Aqaba sewage works 21 Apr (DRM).
*Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini
1989: first-summer, Aqaba (I) 3 Jul-2 Aug.
This bird was seen off Eilat (Shirihai 1996) and on several occasions off Aqaba. The first record in Jordan.
*Common Gull Larus canus
A scarce winter visitor to Aqaba and Azraq (once).
1996: Aqaba sewage works 5 Dec.
1997: Aqaba sewage works 16 Feb.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
A passage bird, more common in spring than autumn, which occurs at Aqaba and to a lesser extent
inland. None in winter (but see below).
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihat 17
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
1997: Aqaba sewage works 16 Feb, 6 on 22nd; 5, Qa’ al Azraq 14 Mar. Only record away from Aqaba in
this period. 2 adult L. f. heuglini (known as Siberian Gull), Aqaba sewage works 16 Feb (IJA); first-winter
heuglint, Aqaba Tourist Camp 23 Mar (RBB, KLE).
First records of this (sub)species for Jordan. Descriptions available.
*Armenian Gull Larus armenicus
One record at Aqaba in 1992, but likely to occur there on passage and in winter.
1995: Aqaba sewage works 19 Apr.
1996: Aqaba sewage works 10-11 Apr.
1997: Aqaba sewage works 16 and 22 Feb, 2 adults, 21 Apr; Aqaba 22 Feb, 2 on 23 Mar.
*Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
1997: first-winter Aqaba (I) 27 Nov and 1 Dec (RR, JMR).
The first record in Jordan.
*Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
1983: 3+, Aqaba (I) Jun—Aug.
At least three of the nine which summered off Eilat in 1983 (Shirihai 1996) were seen flying to or from
Jordanian waters (HS). The first record in Jordan.
Little Tern Sterna albifrons
A few pairs nest on Qa’ al Azraq when conditions are suitable. Also an uncommon spring migrant to
wetland sites including Aqaba. Very rare after end July.
1996: 14 pairs, Dyke 10 wetland, As Safi 2 Jul (MIE). A new summering locality with suitable breeding
habitat.
1997: Aqaba sewage works 9 Apr (RIB). Earliest date.
White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Very common passage migrant.
1995: 5-20, Qa’ al Azraq in Jun, 180, including juveniles, on 8th (Khoury 1996).
1996: 10,000—-12,000 Aqaba sewage works (I) 30 Apr (RAB).
*Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii
Unrecorded in Jordan, but considered likely to occur.
Birds drinking at Samar sewage ponds, Israel (32 km north of Eilat) regularly arrive from the east (i.e.
from Jordan) (HS). The most recent record concerns 25 on 8 May 1996. Four, 20 km north of Eilat 26 Mar
1996 flew into Jordan at dusk (MCD).
This is the first evidence to support the hypothesis that the species does occur in Jordan, a fact implied by
the map (of unknown source) in BWP and a statement by Sutari (1996) that it occurs rarely in Wadi Rum
and the Aqaba Mountains. Samar lies on the opposite side of Wadi Araba to Wadi Duhayla in the Aqaba
Mountains. It is interesting that they should chose (or be forced) to drink 10 km away to the west. A new
species for Jordan.
*Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus
A local (presumed) resident of Wadi Araba.
1989: few pairs bred, Qa Sa’idiyin May-Jun (HS).
1995: 1-4, Fidan 24 Apr, 2-3 on 19-20 May.
1997: 4, Wadi Araba (west of Fidan) 25 Mar.
The resident population in Wadi Araba (Shirihai 1996) probably also breeds on the Jordanian side (HS).
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus
Breeding suspected in interior deserts and Wadi Araba. Presumed resident.
1980s: flocks of 10s seen crossing Wadi Araba between Israel and Jordan at high altitude (Shirihai 1996).
1989: few 10s of pairs bred, Qa Sa’idiyin May (Shirihai 1996) (Plate 5).
1995: 3 males, Wadi Abu Dubana 26 Apr; nest with eggs, Wadi Araba 21 Jul (T. Wacher & J. Boef per
MIE). First proved breeding in Jordan.
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata
Breeds sporadically in the Eastern and Basalt Deserts, where most frequently seen in late winter and early
spring.
1993-94: large flocks (including one of c. 900 birds) on both sides of Wadi Araba (Hazeva and between
Yahel and Be’er Menula, Israel).
1994: 9, 25 km north of Aqaba (I) 18 Apr (RAB).
1997: 900, As Safawi 26 Mar (RMW); 2200+, Wadi Selma 26 Mar, 3000+ on 27th (RMW); 100s, over Marrib
18 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
and Qa’ Selma 28th (RMW); 500 WNW 25+S Dakhikiya 4 Apr (RMW). Large movements, presumably to
and from drinking pools.
The 1993-94 records predate the published first for Wadi Araba.
*Stock Dove Columba oenas
Winter visitor to the Eastern and Basalt Deserts, formerly rare but now known to be numerous in most
winters. ©
1995: 60, 5 km east of Wadi Rajil dam 16 Feb (MIE); 160+, between Burqu’ and Azraq 22 Feb (MIE); 180+,
between As Safawi, Ar Ruwayshid and Iraqi border 31 Dec (MIE, SAM).
1996: 17, Wadi al Butm 3 Dec (IJA); 160, between Wadi al Butm and Qasr al Kharana 3 Dec (IJA).
*African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea
1997: Aqaba (I) 19 Oct (HS).
A bird from Eilot fields (Israel) flew east to Jordan. The first record in Jordan.
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Very common resident breeder in the highlands and Rift Margins of the north, and the Jordan Valley and
Wadi Araba. Few in Eastern Desert. First recorded in 1979.
1996: 2, Wadi Rum 13 Feb (JH, HB); 10, Sahl as Suwwan 14 Jun (MIE), first records in Rum Desert; 10, Ash
Shawbak castle 8 Dec (IJA). First in Sharra Highlands.
1997: displaying male, Al Barra, Dana (c. 1200 metres) 14 May (FK).
First records from three areas in the highlands in the south, although perhaps fairly common at Disi
agricultural station in winter (e.g. 50 on 7 Dec 1996).
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
Widespread breeder in the Northern Highlands and Jordan Valley. Elsewhere, a very common passage
migrant.
1994: 2, Jordan Valley 17 Mar (NC). Earliest record.
1995: up to 44 per day, wooded areas of the Southern Highlands e.g. Nijil, Ash Shawbak, Al Mansura, Al
Bayda (Petra) and At Tafila late Apr—mid-Aug (juveniles seen) .
1996: up to 3 singing, Disi 12-18 Jun; up to 31 per day, in well-vegetated areas from the Ghor to the
highlands (1100 metres), with breeding suspected in all areas 25 Jun—2 Jul, newly-fledged juveniles Al
Karak late Jun; common breeder at Dana, where c. 600 pairs (FK), nests in all types of extensive woodland
at higher altitudes (>800 metres), also high density in orchards at Dana and in the Ash Shawbak area, and
locally in mature pine plantations. Several nests and fledged juveniles seen Al Barra and Dana orchards in
Jun. Large post-breeding flocks congregate on fields on the edge of the Sharra Highland plateau Jun-Sep
(Khoury 1998).
1995-97: pair bred in Amman garden.
*Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
Rarely reported; most spring records from Aqaba.
1995: male, mouth of Wadi al Mujib 8 Apr (ASh); pair, Gerd Apr-Jun, another male in Jun (Khoury 1996).
First summer records.
1996: several, Aqaba (I) Feb—May (RAB); Suwayma 31 Mar (IJA); male, Qasr Amra 9 Apr (PGS, MR)
(Plate 6).
1997: Aqaba sewage works 9 Apr (RIB); male, Azraq 14 Apr (FK, DRM).
This species breeds in Suaeda monoica scrub in the Eilat-Aqaba border zone and also just within Aqaba (HS).
*Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius
May breed in the Jordan Valley and side wadis. Scarce passage migrant in spring, only one autumn record.
1997: Hazeem 21 Apr (RL).
Breeds on both sides of the Jordan River (Shirihai 1996).
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo
Resident breeder, perhaps more widespread than records suggest.
1988: several pellets on rocky ledge on north bank of Zarga River 19 Oct (Bates & Harrison 1989)
1995: 2-3 pairs, Dana Reserve; near Farqu’ 5 Dec (MIE); 17 pellets Al Nakheel, Azraq in Mar-Jul
(Amr et al. 1997).
1997: nests, Dakhikiya and Hazeem (ML, RMW, ZSA).
Several new breeding sites. Adult-like birds recorded along both banks of the Jordan River but no nest
found (Shirihai 1996).
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirthai 19
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
European Scops Owl Otus scops
Uncommon migrant breeder in the Northern Highlands and Rift Margins south to Petra. Also occurs on
passage in the interior deserts.
1995: 5, Dana 26 Feb-21 May at least (MIE); up to 5, Jabal Amman, Amman 9-29 Jul (DD).
1996: Wadi al Butm 2 Apr (JA); Sayl al Hasa (c. 200 metres) 1 Jul (MIE).
1997: 3 heard, Dana 19 Feb (IJA). Earliest record.
All records away from Dana and Petra are given. A common breeder on both banks of the Jordan River
(Shirihai 1996).
*Tawny Owl Strix aluco
Scarce resident of the Northern Highland forests.
1996: heard, Dibbin Forest 8 Apr (PH). New site.
Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri
Resident in mountainous deserts, notably at Petra, Wadi Dana and Wadi Rum.
1995: Al Mansura 4 Aug (MIE).
Only record away from Petra and Dana: c. 10-20 pairs in the Dana Reserve in 1995 (RSCN 1995b).
*Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Rare migrant in spring and formerly in winter.
1988: near Yahel 11 Dec.
This area of Wadi Araba is now Jordanian territory (HS).
Nubian Nightjar Caprimulgus nubicus
Three records (all in 1963).
Some of the 1980s breeding sites in Wadi Araba are in an area now partially Jordan e.g. the Iddan and
Yahel areas (Shirihai 1996).
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Resident in small numbers in the Jordan Valley. A few reach Azrag in autumn and winter.
1995: 3, Azrag 4-15 Jun. First summer records at Azraq.
1996: 2, Aqaba sewage works 10 Apr, 2, 5-6 Dec (IJA). First at Aqaba.
A few pairs breed on both banks of the Jordan River (Shirihai 1996).
Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
Resident in Wadi Araba. First recorded in 1979.
1995: 2, Dead Sea Hotel 9 Apr. Northern limit of range.
1996: pair at nest hole, Aqaba sewage works 11 Apr. Apparently first recorded nest in Jordan.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
Breeding colony at Azraq until c. 1969. Scarce on passage.
1996: 6 pairs, Ghor as Safi and Ghor Fifa 2 Jul (MIE), mainly in marginal areas, between cultivation with
large Ziziphus trees and the lower altitude tussock-grass ‘saltmarshes’ with extensive Tamarix scrub.
New breeding site.
A few pairs breed on both banks of the Jordan River (Shirihai 1996).
Wryneck Jynx torquilla
Scarce spring and autumn migrant; one winter record in Jordan Valley.
1997: Dana terraces (1100 metres) 31 Dec.
A rare winter visitor to both banks of the Jordan River (Shirihai 1996).
Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus
Resident in the Northern Highlands.
Frequently seen, and locally breeds, in trees on both banks of the Jordan River (Shirihai 1996).
*Black-crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps
1988-89: 5-10, Qa’ Saidiyin 21 Nov—20 Mar (Shirihai 1996) (Plate 7).
This area now lies mostly within Jordan. The first record in Jordan.
Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda dunni
Nests sporadically in small numbers in Wadi Araba and the Eastern Desert.
1988-89: birds at Qa’ Saidiyin used both sides of the Israel-Jordan border. Most suitable habitat is on the
Jordan side. A minimum of 500-1000 were estimated in Wadi Araba, on both sides of the border (Shirihai
1996). Some breeders in May 1989 were in an area now returned to Jordan.
20 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihat
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
1994: 14-19, Wadi Abu Dubana and Wadi Tasan 22 Oct-16 Nov (RSCN 1995a, RFP). Not seen at this site
in 1995-97.
1995: 3, 25 km north of Aqaba (I) 21 Mar.
1997: Wadi al Qattafi 1 Apr (RMW).
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra
Very common winter visitor, and scarce breeder in agricultural and steppe country in the north.
1994: 11 flew south, Wadi Araba, near Fidan 13 Nov, 10 flew south, 18th (and unidentified Melanocorypha
larks, probably this species, 10 south, 20 Oct, 3 flew south, 23rd) (RSCN 1995a). First evidence of passage.
1995: 45, 10 km east of Mu’ta 30 Jun (MIE).
1996: up to 10 (singing males and pairs), east and south of Al Qadisiyya in Apr-May (Khoury 1998). First
sign of breeding in Sharra Highlands.
*Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata
Scarce early spring migrant to highland fringe and Fastern Desert. Rare in autumn.
1988-89: Qa’ Saidiyin Dec-Jan (HS).
1995: 4 (2 displaying), 9 km east of As Safawi (700 metres) 13 Apr (IJA); 16 (2 displaying, 5 singing), Wadi
Selma and Wadi Hashad area 16 Apr (RFP); 14 (including 8 singing, 2 nest-building), between Burqu’ and
Mugat (650 metres) 17 Apr (RFP).
1996: 15 (1 displaying), Wadi Selma 19 Mar (CAH).
1997: Aqaba (I) 25 Mar (MG) landed on the beach in both countries; 25-50 Qa’ Selma 28 Mar (RMW); 8,
Burqu’ 29 Mar (RMW).
First evidence of nesting (1995) followed vegetation growth in Basalt Desert after winter rains. Based on
the sample counts listed above, there may have been in excess of 500 pairs in the Basalt Desert in Apr 1995
(RFP). Subsequent records in similar areas in 1996-97 suggest that small numbers may be present
annually. The nearest recorded breeding occurs on the northern Golan and Jabal Sheikh (Mount Hermon)
slopes (Shirihai 1996).
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
Few breed in the Northern Highlands and steppes, and Azraq (at least in the 1960s). Locally common
migrant, especially in autumn in the east. No winter records.
1995: singing, Shaumari 11 Apr; 5 singing, Burqu’-Mugat area 17 Apr (RFP); Azraq Jun (Khoury 1996).
1996: c. 1000 pairs bred in Sharra Highlands (Khoury 1998). New breeding area, now recognised as the
stronghold for this species in Jordan. 10, Mu’ta University 26 Jun; 28, 10 km east of Mu’ta 30 Jun.
Asian Short-toed Lark Calandrella cheleénsis
BWP Concise indicates a general area of probable wintering which includes much of Jordan, except the far
north-west and south-west. There are no Jordanian sight or specimen records for this species which has
only recently been considered to occur in the Western Palearctic (Roselaar 1995).
Woodlark Lullula arborea
Evidence of breeding at Dana and Ajlun requires confirmation. Relatively common winter visitor to Rift
Margins, highlands and steppes of north-west Jordan.
1995: singing birds, Dana 8-13 Mar and 27 Apr-26 May; family parties, Jabal Rummana, Dana (1000-1250
metres) 27 Apr and 24 May (MIE).
1996: 22, Al Barra 11 Jan; small numbers Wadi Hamra (Dana), Dana village and school 21-26 Jan (JD), 2
singing, 5 Apr (PGS, MR); c. 28, Amman National Park 30 Nov; 6,5 km north of Wadi Musa 8 Dec.
1997: 8, Al Barra 19 Feb; 2, Dana 17 Mar, 2 (1 singing) 20 Oct.
Extension of winter range south to Southern Rift Margins, and first proof of breeding in Jordan.
House Martin Delichon urbica
Fairly common spring migrant, especially in the Rift Valley and Rift Margins. Scarce in the east, and rare
in autumn.
1996: 35 Al ‘Ayna, Wadi al Hasa 28 Jun (MIE). The first summer record in Jordan and suggestive of local
breeding (previously unsuspected).
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
Scarce passage migrant across the country. Evidence of breeding from Sharra Highlands in 1955.
1995: probably bred in highland steppe agriculture near Al Qadisiyya (paired, singing and territorial) late
March-mid-May (MIE).
1996: 5+ pairs bred, Sharra Highlands, young 15 Jun (Khoury 1998). First breeding in Jordan.
Regular winterer at Qa’ Saidiyin e.g. 6, 10 Jan 1989 (Shirihai 1996).
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai 21
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis
Localised resident in the Rift Margins and Northern Highlands.
1995: near Feinan (600 metres) 2-3 Apr and 2 (c. 850 metres), 16th (MIE) during cold spell when Al Barra
plateau was shrouded in cloud and rain.
1996: ‘Ain Khawkha and Tayyibiyeh (near Al Karak, 700 metres) 29 Jun; 3, Sayl al Hasa (200 metres) 1 Jul;
c. 20 pairs bred, Sharra Highlands (Khoury 1998); c. 100+ pairs, Sharra Highland Plateau and Southern
Rift Margins (Busayra to Ash Shawbak, 900-1600 metres). Not present above 1000 metres in winter,
evidence of altitudinal movements (FK).
1997: Wadi Araba (W of Fidan) 25 Mar (RSCN 1997a).
Pre-1994 data implied that the species did not breed between Wadi al Mujib and At Tafila (Andrews 1995).
*Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
1982: 2, Aqaba (I) 19-30 Nov.
These birds, at the north-east corner of Eilat palm groves, were seen several times flying into Jordan (HS).
The first record in Jordan.
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
Common spring migrant, particularly at Azraq, less common in autumn and winter.
1996: 500, Disi 7 Dec (IJA). New wintering site.
*White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys
One record at Agaba in 1990.
1997: Azraq 14 Apr (FK, DRM). Second record in Jordan.
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos
Very common resident in the west. Absent from the east.
1995: c. 1000-5000 pairs, Dana Reserve (RSCN 1995b); 2, Rum 18 Apr (JA) were first for site (1-2 subsequently).
*Dunnock Prunella modularis
A scarce winter visitor to the Northern Highlands and Dead Sea Rift Margins.
1995: Dana terraces 2 Feb (MIE). Most southerly locality.
1996: Dana orchards 6 Mar, Wadi Ahmar (Dana) 7 Mar (FK).
1997: 3, Dana terraces 31 Dec.
*Radde’s Accentor Prunella ocularis
1997: Dana terraces 31 Dec (Hansson ef al. 1998).
The first record in Jordan.
*Alpine Accentor Prunella modularis
1995: 2, Dana 26 Feb (Evans 1996).
The first record in Jordan.
Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes
Common breeding summer visitor to the Northern Highlands, Rift Margins, Rift Valley and Azraq.
Widespread on migration.
1996: c. 200 pairs bred Dana Reserve (700-1300 metres) in Raetama and Tamarix thickets in upper Wadi
Dana, in orchards and in open juniper and oak-juniper woodland (FK), juveniles seen Dana orchards in
Jul; 2, Al Ghal 15 Jun; 2, Disi 18 Jun (MIE): males were singing and were in suitable breeding habitat.
Previously only known to breed in the south at Petra (Andrews 1995). This and other new data show it to
be a far more widespread and common breeder in the Southern Rift Margins. Probable breeding in the
Rum Desert is also new.
*White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis
A scarce passage migrant, principally in spring.
1995: male, Feinan 26 Apr (MIE, RFP).
1997: male, Wadi ar Rattami 14 Apr (FK, DRM).
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Common winter visitor to highlands; less common elsewhere. Rufous-bellied races occur rarely in Mar
and Oct.
1994: 1+ semirufus, King Talal Dam 1 Nov.
1995: male resembling P. 0. ochruros, near Feinan 16 Nov (IM). In Israel, P. 0. ochruros is considerably rarer
than phoenicuroides and semirufus, but perhaps overlooked (Shirihai 1996).
1996: orange-bellied male, Wadi al Mujib 3 Jan (MIE). First winter record of one of these races.
22 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
ee
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
Blackstart Cercomela melanura
A characteristic member of the Rift Margin avifauna.
1997: between Azraq and Shaumari 14 Mar (RRB, KLE). First away from Rift Margins.
Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata
Common winter visitor, especially to the Northern Highlands, Jordan Valley and Azrag. S. t. maura and
stejnegeri occur rarely in winter and on passage.
1995: male eastern race, near South Shuna 24 Nov (MIE, FK).
1996: male variegata, Azraq 7-8 Apr (RvdV, PGS, MR). First record of this Caspian race in Jordan.
Description supplied. Male maura or stejnegeri, Shaumari 7 Apr (RvdV).
1997: 2 maura or stejnegeri, near Azrag 14 Mar (RBB, KLE); male eastern race, As Safawi 25 Apr (RMW).
*Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca
Scarce early spring migrant, mostly in the Eastern Desert.
1995: female, Wadi Fidan 29 Mar (MIE).
1997: male, As Safawi 25-29 Mar, 2 males on 26th (RMW); 2 males, Wadi al Qattafi 1 Apr (RMW); Qa’ al
Azraq 2 Apr (RIB); Wadi ar Rattami 14 Apr (DRM); Azraq 15 Apr (DRM); Qasr al Kharana 15 Apr (DRM).
The following records refer to Pied O. pleschanka or Cyprus Pied Wheatear.
1994: male, Wadi Dahal 18 Nov (MIE, RIB).
1996: first-summer male, Shaumari 7 Apr (RvdV).
1997: Qasr Amra 7 Oct (RFP).
There are no confirmed records of O. pleschanka in Jordan.
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica
Relatively common migrant breeder in the highlands and Rift Margins, south to Ma’an. Widespread on
passage.
1996: Wadi Dana 1 Feb (FK). Earliest date
Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii
Relatively common winter visitor to the Northern Highlands, Northern and Central Rift Margins and
Eastern Desert.
1995-96: fairly common between Busayra and Ash Shawbak late Nov—mid-Feb, few to late Feb (FK).
Density of 45 birds/km’ in open rocky, semi-cultivated areas.
1996: Gharandal (Sharra Highlands) 17 Oct (FK). Earliest record. 1-4, many localities between Ar Rajif
and Ash Shawbak 8 Dec (IJA).
Now known to winter fairly commonly in the Sharra Highlands and adjacent Southern Rift Margins.
*Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna
Three records: in 1955, 1975 and 1994.
1997: male, Wadi Musa 27 Mar (TA).
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens
A characteristic bird of the Rift Margin mountains from the Dead Sea south to Wadi Rum and Aqaba. Also
found locally in the interior deserts. A distinctive black morph is resident on the Basalt Desert.
1994: common, Wadi Feinan below 300 m in Nov. Usually breeds at 300-700 metres (FK). Evidence of
altitudinal movement.
1996: partial albino Basalt Desert morph, near As Safawi 7 Apr (RvdV) (Plate 8).
Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha
Local resident of the Central and Southern Rift Margins and Rum Desert. ’
1994: male, 5 km north of Wadi al Mujib bridge 26 Dec.
1995: pair, female food-carrying, Wadi al Mhash (lower part of Dana Reserve, c. 100 metres) 20 May (FK);
c. 5-20 pairs in Dana Reserve (Evans and Al-Mashaqbah 1995).
1996: pair, Lisan peninsular 4 Jan; 2 males, 5-10 km south of Aqaba 27 Mar.
White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga
Common resident of the Central and Southern Rift Margins and Rum Desert. May occur in the Basalt
Desert.
1995: Jabal Rummana, Dana 23 Mar (1000 metres) and 24 May (600 metres) (MIE). Unusually high.
Common in Wadi Dana only below 300 metres.
1996: 3, Wadi Selma 1 Jan (MIE, SAM). Presence in eastern Basalt Desert confirmed. South of Al Qadisiyya
(1400 metres) 1 Apr (FK). Unusually high. Usually below 400 m in the Southern Rift Margins.
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai 23
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis
Scarce spring migrant in the south and east. One autumn record.
1996: Ajlun Castle 4 Oct (DRM). Second autumn record.
It is possible the species could breed in the highest Sharra Highlands (max. 1736 metres) as it nests at
1650-2400 metres on Mount Hermon.
*Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
One record: at Wadi Musa in Nov 1986.
1995: 9-10, Dana 11 Mar, 6+, 13th and 15th, 1, 17th (MIE).
Only the second record, but this small influx suggests it could be more regular in the Southern Rift
Margins in winter.
Blackbird Turdus merula
Common breeding resident in the Northern Highlands, and may breed further south (e.g. Dana). In
winter small numbers reach the Jordan Valley and Azraq.
1996: up to 6 per day in well-vegetated areas, from Ghor Haditha to Karak and upper Wadi al Hasa (1100
metres) 25 Jun-—l Jul (MIE); c.5 pairs bred, Dana orchards and max. 5 pairs, Dana woodlands, nest early
May (FK).
These records expand the species’ known breeding range into the Central and Southern Rift Margins.
Previously recorded breeding only as far south as Na’ur (Andrews 1995). Summer records from the
Southern Ghor also suggests breeding. Breeds along both banks of the Jordan River (Shirihai 1996).
*Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
Uncommon winter visitor to the Northern Highlands and Eastern Desert. Recently recorded at Dana,
where it may also winter.
1995: 33, Azrag 10 Feb (MIE); Dana 11-15 Mar (MIE).
1996: Aqaba sewage works 6 Dec (IJA).
*Redwing Turdus iliacus
Two records: in 1979 and 1994.
1996: 5, Dana 12 Jan (FK). Third record in Jordan.
*Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
Scarce winter visitor to the Northern Highlands and Azraq.
1995: 10, Dana 20 Mar (MIE); Jabal Sarab, Dana 6 Dec (FK); 8, Al Qadisiyya 8 Dec (FK).
First records in the Southern Rift Margins and Southern Highlands.
*Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis
Formerly bred Azraq. Very small numbers may breed in the Jordan Valley and Southern Ghor.
1985: bred at a few sites along the Jordan River (both sides) north and south of Beit Shean Valley (Israel) (HS).
1997: 2 singing males, Azraq 7 Oct (RFP). First record at Azraq since single on 5 April 1985
(Andrews 1995).
Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis
Common resident in the north-west (the Jordan Valley, Rift Margins and Northern Highlands). Present on
cultivated land in the east (e.g. Azrag and Shaumari), but rare in the south.
1994: Wadi Ghuweib 14 Nov; Dana (1100 metres) 22 Nov; up to 10, Fawwara/Wadi Tasan springs 24
Oct-20 Nov (RSCN 1995a).
1995: Dana 22 Mar; small numbers, Feinan area 30 Mar—19 May, including 22, Wadi Tasan and Fawwara 19
May.
1996: present throughout the year, Dana orchards (FK), max. 3 pairs bred, juvenile in Jun.
First breeding in the south, but a few pairs are now known to be resident at Aqaba sewage works (IJA).
*Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris
One record: at Azraq in 1966.
1994: Wadi al Mujib 15 May (RH).
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Summer visitor to Azraq, numbers reduced since 1960s. Breeds along the Jordan River and probably
elsewhere in the Jordan Valley. Scarce migrant elsewhere.
1996: 5 singing, Aqaba sewage works 10-11 Apr (IJA); 9+ singing in Phragmites, Al Burbayta 28 Jun (MIE);
4+ singing, Sahl as Suwwan pool 14 Jun (MIE).
1997: Azragq 14 Mar, 2, 15th (RBB, KLE). Earliest record.
Three new breeding sites (one natural and two man-made), well south of previously known range in Jordan.
24 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
i Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
PE
Plate 1. Streaked Calonectris leucomelas (right) and Cory’s Plate 2. Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax at nest, Jordan River.
Shearwaters C. diomedea, Gulf of Agaba, June 1992. (H. Shirihai). — (H. Shirihai).
Plate 4. White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons, Eilat, Israel, winter
1986-87. (H. Shirihai).
25
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
*Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
Extinct at Azraq. Perhaps resident on Yarmouk River, Jordan River and at As Safi.
1995: singing, Al Burbayta 15 Apr (NSR).
Locally common breeder along the Jordan River and south of the Dead Sea in suitable habitat (Shirihai
1996).
Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida
Common migrant breeder in the Rift Margin highlands south to Petra. pera es breeds in the Jordan
Valley. Fairly common migrant through most of Jordan.
1995: 3 singing males, Azragq 14-15 Jun (Khoury 1996). No breeding records.
1996: 2 singing males (probably migrants), upper Wadi Dana in Apr; singing, Dana orchards in Jun (FK).
1997: pair nest-building, Al Barra, Dana Apr—May (FK).
Rare breeder in the Southern Rift Margins, but now known to breed sporadically at Dana with no more
than five pairs.
Upcher’s Warbler Hippolais languida
Local migrant breeder in the Northern Highlands and perhaps elsewhere. More widespread on spring
passage, including Eastern and Rum Deserts, rare in autumn.
1995: presumed breeding at high density, up to 15/day, Dana (1000 m) 21 Apr—16 Aug, most left by late
Jul, pairs, song and territorial behaviour observed (MIE). August records are latest recorded. c. 200-400
pairs in Dana Reserve (RSCN 1995b).
1996: Al Yarut, near Al Karak 26 Jun. In breeding habitat. Ghor as Safi 2 Jul. Presumably a wandering
non-breeder or failed breeder.
Important new breeding area at Dana now mapped.
*Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum
Rare passage migrant, most in spring.
1995: Feinan 20 Aug (MIE).
1997: 2, Wadi Rum 5 Aug (CG).
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata
Breeds in low densities in the highlands and higher Rift Margins south to Ras an Nagab. Small numbers
reach Wadi Araba and Eastern Desert in winter.
1996: c. 15 in 2 one-km transects, near Faqu’ 23 Mar (RSCN 1996); up to 500 pairs bred, Sharra Highlands
(Khoury 1998).
1997: pair, Shaumari 15 Apr (FK) in suitable breeding habitat. Breeding previously unknown in Eastern
Desert.
*Meénétries’s Warbler Sylvia mystacea
Two records: in 1965 and 1989.
1995: male, Qasr Amra 7 Apr (FK).
1996: male, Qasr Amra 6 Apr (RvdV) (Plate 9).
1997: female, Dana 17 Mar (RBB, KLE); female, As Safawi 2 and 4 Aer (RMW); male, Dakhikiya 3 Apr,
female, 4th (RMW); 2 males and 1 female, Etive 6 Apr (RMW); male, Wadi ar Rattami 14 Apr (DRM); 6 (5
males and 1 female), Wadi al Butm 15 Apr (FK, DRM).
Apparently regular in small numbers in the Eastern Desert.
*Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax
Three records from Wadi Araba foothills in Nov 1994.
1995: male in Nitraria bushes, Azraq 12 Feb (MIE). First in Eastern Desert.
1996: male in Ochradenus bushes, mouth of Wadi al Mujib 7 Jan (MIE), 3+, 30 Jan (FK, JD); 2-5 daily, Wadi
al Mujib Reserve 6-13 Mar with total of up to 25, presumably on passage (RSCN 1996).
Previously only recorded in 1994 (three records), but increase not unexpected. On the opposite side of the
Dead Sea and Wadi Araba, c. 300 winter in vegetated wadis from Nov—Mar (Shirihai 1996).
*Desert Warbler Sylvia nana
Rare winter visitor to southern deserts and Wadi Araba. Rare in the east.
1995: between Sahl as Suwwan and Al Mudawwara 14 Nov (IM).
1997: Wadi Abu Dubana 21 Feb (IJA); 25 km north of Aqaba (I) 28 Mar (MG, EABH); Wadi Rum 29 Dec
(EH, AM, PE).
Birds in sandy desert 25 km north of Eilat are often flushed onto the Jordanian side of the border (HS).
26 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis
Breeds at Dana. Scarce spring migrant, principally in west and south. No autumn records.
1996: c. 400+ pairs breeding Dana Reserve (FK).
Substantial breeding population at Dana now more accurately counted.
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
Breeds in the Northern Highlands (S. c. caucasica). Abundant migrant in spring and autumn. A few may
winter at Azraq.
1995: resembling minula, Azraq 11 Feb (MIE); ringed bird, Amman 20 Mar, had been ringed near
Doncaster (U. K.) on 13 Aug 1994. First U. K. recovery in Jordan (Appleton et al. 1997).
1996: resembling minula, Dana 7 Oct (DRM).
1997: resembling minula, Aqaba 20 Mar (RBB, KLE); resembling althaea, Wadi al Mujib 16 Mar (RBB, KLE).
Subspecific identification of birds in the field is considered unwise, and none of the subspecies records
listed above are regarded as substantiated.
Whitethroat Sylvia communis
May breed in the northern Jordan Valley. Uncommon on migration.
1994: 2 singing, Dana 17 May (RH); Feinan 18 Nov (RSCN 1995a). Latest record.
Very widespread breeder along both sides of the Jordan River (Shirihai 1996).
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
Breeds in the Northern Highlands. Common passage migrant, especially in the east.
1995: pair with young, Jibayha,Amman 12 Aug (MIE).
1996: 3+, Dana orchards May-Sep, pair feeding young 10 Jun (FK). First breeding in the south.
Breeds locally on both sides of the Jordan River (Shirihai 1996).
*Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
Rare migrant, most often recorded in late autumn.
1995: Al Khirba as Samra 12 Nov (CB).
1996: Dana 25 Sep (FK).
1997: Petra 5 Oct (RFP); 2, Shaumari 7 Oct (RFP).
*Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus
Rare winter visitor to the Rift Valley and Azraq.
1995: 2, Ain Fidan 16 Nov (per IM).
1996: 8, Wadi Tasan springs 24 Jan (FK).
1997: 2, Wadi al Mujib 4 Dec (IJA); Aqaba sewage works 5-6 Dec (IJA).
Palestine Sunbird Nectarinia osea
Common breeder in Rift Margin highlands south to Petra. Small numbers winter in Wadi Araba. Rare in
Wadi Rum and unrecorded at Azraq.
1994: Dana to at least 10 Oct; Feinan 17 Oct-20 Nov at least (RSCN 1995a).
1995: present, Dana from 9 Mar, max. 40 on 16 Mar. ;
1996: common, Wadi Dana (200-800 metres) Jan-Mar, also at Feinan. Few, Dana at 900-1100 metres from
mid-Jan. Common at 800-1400 metres from early Mar, altitudinal movements at Dana; c. 1000+ pairs
breeding, Dana (FK); up to 13, Rum, Disi and Al Ghal Jun (MIE). Increase following settlement.
*Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus
Rare spring and autumn migrant, mainly in the east.
1997: female, Dakhikiya 3 Apr (RMW).
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Common passage migrant, sometimes in large numbers.
1996: immature, Disi 7 Dec (IJA). First winter record
Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius pallidirostris
Fairly common resident in the Rift Valley, Highlands and interior deserts.
1994: photographed, Aqaba 10 Oct (IJA, TL) (Plate 10). First record of this species. Description provided.
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus
Fairly common migrant. Small numbers breed in the Northern Highlands, possibly elsewhere.
1996: singles frequent, Jabal Sarab May-Jun (FK). May breed at Dana.
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihat 27
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
November 1988. (H. Shirihai).
I
ceps, Qa’ Saidiyin
ri
ig
rix n
inch Lark Eremopte
crowned F
Black
Plate 7.
6 April
Qasr Amra,
d
tacea
ia mys
s Warbler Sylvi
e)
’
les
tri
€
de Lang
én
M
R
Plate 9
ing Wheatear
ino basalt morph Mourn
. Partial alb
As Safaw
Plate 8
(
1996
de Lange)
R
(
7 April 1996.
Oenanthe lugens
29
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
*Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Rare breeder at Pella (Jordan Valley). Scarce winter visitor to Jordan Valley, Northern Highlands and
Azraq, formerly more common.
1995: 3, Shuna Resr 28 Mar, 2,9 Apr.
1996: 10, Shuna Resr 31 Mar.
1997: 4, Shuna Resr 30 Mar.
The spring records at Shuna Resr suggest a second breeding site south of Pella. A few pairs breed in the
banks of the Jordan River (Shirihai 1996).
*Raven Corvus corax
Formerly widespread in north and west Jordan, but no confirmed records since the 1960s.
1995: pair, Al Barra, Dana 28 Feb (MIE), Mount Nebo 12 Apr (NSR); pair, Ash Shawbak early Dec—mid-
Feb 1996 (FK).
1996: 2, Dana 12 Jan (JD); Al Karak area 30 Jan (FK); Faqu’ 23 Mar (RSCN 1996), adult feeding begging
juvenile, Wadi al Mujib 6 May (MIE); pair, Wadi Dana 1 Apr (FK); up to 8, near Ar Rashadiyya Sep—Oct
(Khoury 1998).
1997: pair, Ash Shawbak early Apr—late May (FK); pair, near Mount Nebo 29 Apr (FK).
Now known to be a rare resident in the high Rift Margins.
*Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus
Vagrant to Azraq in May 1966 and May 1976.
1995: Aqaba Royal Diving Centre 20 Apr (NSR). Fourth record in Jordan. °
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
Uncommon breeder in Rift Margin wadis south to Wadi al Hasa. More widespread and common in
winter, especially in desert areas.
1996: c.10 pairs bred, Dana orchards (FK); 300+ birds with 130+ nests in three colonies at Disi and Sahl as
Suwwan on 14 Jun (MIE) in tall Eucalyptus and Casuarina trees; pair nesting, Sharra Highlands (Khoury
1998). |
Breeding in Jordan had previously only been recorded as far south as Wadi al Hasa, 150 km to the north
(Andrews 1995).
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus
Breeds in loose colonies along the Jordan River and locally around the Dead Sea. Flocks in winter wander
in the southern Jordan Valley and Wadi Araba.
1995: c. 250, near South Shuna 24 Nov (FK, MIE).
1996: 56+ (including c. 50 singing males), As Safi—Fifa area 27 Jun and 2 Jul (MIE). Five colonies located:
mouth of Wadi Bin Hamed; Ghor Haditha; south-east of Dyke 10 wetland, As Safi; un-named locality,
north-west of As Safi; between Khandaq al Hasan and border watchtower. Colony sizes unknown. All
were in Tamarix scrub on saline, water-logged soil, which covers much of the uncultivated, lowest land in
the Southern Ghor. Tamarix is virtually continuous in this area, suggesting that the total population there
is probably much larger.
|
*Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia brachydactyla :
Breeding proved only at Dana in 1994. Late spring migrant in some years especially around Azraq. )
1995: 2 singing, 9 km east of As Safawi 13 Apr (IJA); Qa’ al Bug’awiyya 16 Apr (RFP); 11 (8 singing, pair
displaying and pair nest-building) Burqu’—Mugat area 17 Apr (RFP); 2+ in Artemisia steppe, 10 km north /
of Ras an Nagab 2 Jul (MIE).
1997: 50, Qa’ Selma 25 Mar (RMW); 30, Marrib Selma 28 Mar (RMW); 2, Dana 17 Apr (FK, DRM); 2 /
singing, 1 km north of Mount Nebo 29 Apr (FK).
First evidence of breeding in the Basalt Desert.
|
.
|
l
]
*Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Uncommon winter visitor to the Northern Highlands. Vagrant at Azraq.
1995: Jibayha, Amman 8 Feb.
*Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillis
1996: near Al Mansura 21 Feb (Khoury 1997).
The first record in Jordan.
30 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus
Isolated breeding population in oak and juniper woodland at Dana. Small numbers occur elsewhere in
winter and in spring.
1995: up to 67/day, Dana Mar-May; census 9-28 Mar found 48.5 birds/km‘* in habitat which covers c. 34.2
km’ of the reserve. Reserve population estimated at c. 800 pairs (RSCN 1995b), most departed by mid-Aug
(MIE); 10, Al Ghal oasis 14 Nov (IM). First in Rum Desert; 98+ roosting, Dana Reserve 21 Nov (FK); 1-2,
west of Faqu’ 29 Nov—22 Dec (MIE); up to 60 daily, Wadi as Sidd, east of Al Qadisiyya Dec (FK).
1996: 2, Raddas 6 Mar (CAH). First in Dead Sea area. 2, Petra 10 Mar; daily max. 450, Dana Reserve to Al
Mansura in Jan—Feb; up to 50+ in small cultivated areas, Feinan 27-28 Mar (CAH); 600-650 pairs breeding,
Al Barra area, Dana Reserve (FK); up to 100 daily, Al Qadisiyya and Ar Rashadiyya Jul—Oct (FK, DRM);
near Rum 1 Apr (PGS, MR).
1997: Ajlun Castle 16 May (RL). Late. Some localities around Ajlun have suitable breeding habitat (FK).
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Very common resident in Highlands and Rift Margins south to Petra. Some wander in winter.
Hundreds for sale in Friday markets, Amman Nov 1995 (FK). As a result of the cagebird market, this
species is extinct in some area (Sutari 1996), e.g. none were recorded in two hours in Wadi as Sir in May
1997 (FK). Although previously very common here, locals claim it is very rare or extinct due to catching
and collecting of young birds from nests.
*Siskin Carduelis spinus
Uncommon winter visitor to the Northern Highlands. Few migrants elsewhere.
1996: 2, Disi 7 Dec (IJA).
Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta
An increasingly common resident in the Azraq area. Elsewehere, occurs on the desert fringe and southern
Jordan Valley.
1994: up to 15, Feinan area 18 Oct-20 Nov (RSCN 1995a, RIB).
1996: up to 8, Disi Jun, pair feeding 2+ begging juveniles, 18 Jun (MIE). First breeding in south Jordan; 2,
Mu’ta University 26 Jun; present, Al Qadisiyya summer and autumn (FK); 6, Ar Rashadiyya 20 Oct; 154,
Azraq fish pools 3 Dec (IJA); 15, Aqaba sewage works 6 Dec; 16, Disi 7 Dec.
1997: 40, Suwayma 13 Mar; up to 5, As Safawi late Mar-early Apr; 5, including a pair with nest, Wadi
Fidan near Israeli border 8 Apr (FK). First nest found in Jordan.
Continues to expand range with several breeding sites located in south Jordan. Large flock at Azraq
suggests increase there. Locally common breeder in Jordan River Valley (Shirihai 1996).
Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus
Common resident of the Southern Rift Margins and Rum Desert. Rare north to the Dead Sea.
1995: c. 500-1000 pairs in Dana Reserve (RSCN 1995b); 40+, Raddas Jan (MIE), up to 10, 6-12 Mar (RSCN
1996) possibly wintering.
*Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Rare winter visitor to the Northern Highlands.
1996: Wadi Dana 20 Feb (FK); Ar Rummana, Dana 29 Feb (FK). First in south Jordan and both feeding in
Pistacia atlantica.
1997: Amman 28 Mar (FK).
*Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalus
1995: 3, 15 km north of Wadi Musa 14 Dec (Minshull 1996).
1997: first-winter male and 1—2 females, Dana 31 Dec (EH, AM, PE).
The first and second records in Jordan.
*Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
Uncommon winter visitor to the Northern Highlands.
1996: max. 30, Al Qadisiyya, Jabal Sarab and Dana early Dec 1995-late Feb (FK); 4, Dana 10 Jan, 3, 11th
(JD); Petra 12 Feb (MIE); 8, Amman National Park 30 Nov (IJA); 15, 5 km north of Wadi Musa 8 Dec (IJA).
1997: c. 40, Dana 31 Dec (EH, AM, PE).
Southern extension of known wintering range into Southern Rift Margins.
*Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea
Very rare spring migrant.
1996: 3, Dana 25 Mar (FK).
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirthai 3]
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
LEBANON
Jabal
Sheikh
(Mt Hermon)
Yarmouk
River
Umm
Qays
Bet Shean
Kefar Ruppin pejig
~
NRM
—
[aa
Al hie
Zarqa River sara
Damiya NH
Wadi
Su SE aren
Shuna Na'ur
Resr
Suwayma “yt
Nebo adaba
NS
i=
o
xo]
=
fo)
S
32°N
ISRAEL
and the
occupied
territories
Dees Mukawir
Wadi al]Mujib
Al Qatrana
Central
Desert
Dana
Al Husayniyya
| Ash Shawbak
Lg
Be'er Menuha z Wadi Musa
g :~ At Tayyiba
Qa Saiidiyin 8 Ar Rajif
Ras an
Nagab
Jabal
Umm
Ishrin A! Ghal
Desert
Al Mudawwara
Qasr al
Kharana
JORDAN
H Al Jafr Basin
Sahl as
Suwwan Al Mudawwara
37°E
Aqaba Mountains
Central Rift Margins
Jordan Valley
Northern Highlands
Northern Rift Margins
Northern Steppes
Rum Desert
Southern Rift Margins
Southern Ghor
Sharra Highlands
Area returned to
Jordan in 1994
Wadi
Hashad
Ar Ruwayshid
Ghadir Desert
Burqu'
Ar Ruwayshid
Wadi Mugat
Selma Wadi
Rajil
dam
Basalt
Desert
As Safawi
Qasr al
Hallabat
Bug'awiyya
Wadi ar Bs es
Rattami
Wadi al Azraq Az ra q
Butm 7
um Qasr Oasis
Amra Shaumari
Qattafi
Hazeem
Dakhikiya Dead
Sea
Eastern
Desert
Wadi al Mujib
Raddas
Faqu'
Haditha
Al Mazra’a
Lisan
Wadi
as Sirhan
' Dyke 10
wetland
As Safi
At Tafila
=
w. i)
@Qj Dap
cL Busayra
Wadi Ar Rashadiyya
Ghuweib Jabal Sarab
. Dana
Wadi +
Al Qadisiyya
Dana | Barra i
z=
Al-‘Mansura
oO
po)
=
x
=
=
Fidan_ |
Feinan
Tasan
Fawwara
SAUDI
ARABIA
Ash Shawbak
Nijil
Figure 1. Location map. Avifaunal regions are taken from Andrews (1995).
on
Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihat
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana
Common and widespread passage migrant.
1995: single singing males, As Safawi 16 Apr and Burqu’ 17 Apr (RFP)
The first indication of breeding behaviour in Jordan (cf. Bimaculated Lark records in same habitat). On
Syrian Jabal Sheikh (Mount Hermon) and to lesser extent in Israel, the species breeds at 1500-1900 metres,
but predominantly above 1700 metres (Shirihai 1996).
Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia
Uncommon migrant breeder in the western Northern Highlands and at Dana. Common migrant,
especially in the west.
1996: pair at nest, Dana early Jun (FK). First proof of breeding in the south. Localised breeder in southern
mountains (population c. 200 pairs) apparently concentrated around Dana village (FK).
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra
Small numbers breed in the north-west. Very common in winter in the Northern Highlands, desert fringe
and Eastern Desert.
1995: Ain Lahda, Dana 28 Apr; 2 (1 singing), above Dana village (1300-1350 metres) 1 May; singing, below
Dana village (1200 metres) 3 May.
1996: 2 singing males, Ar Rashadiyya and Dana orchards Apr-Jun (FK).
1997: 2-4 singing males, Ar Rashadiyya and Busayra. Singing, Dana orchards Apr—May (Fk).
First evidence of breeding in the south.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks are due to the following for correspondence and/or contributing records from visits to Jordan (and
from Israel, marked (I)): S. A. F. Al-Mashaqbah (1995, per M. I. Evans), M. Al-Saife (1996, per C. A.
Harbard), Dr Z. S. Amr (1995-97), T. Armstrong (1997), R. I. Bashford (1997), R. A. Billington (1996 (1)), R. B.
Bradbury (1997), P. Bristow (1995 (I)), C. Buckton (1995), V. Chatham (1996), M. Cocker (1994), R. Dawson
(1997), J. & J. Day (1996), D. Debski (1995), M. C. Dennis (1996 (1)), P. Eriksson (1997), M. I. Evans (1994-96),
K. L. Evans (1997), C. Goblet (1997), Dr M. Griffin (1997 (1)), J. Hall (1997), E. Hansson (1997), C. A. Harbard
(1996), J. Hering (1996), G. Hirons (1997), R. Hofland (1994), E. A. B. Hurley (1997 (1)), D. M. Jenkins (1995
(I)), K. Lievesley (1996-97), R. Lockwood (1997), T. & I. Loseby (1994), A. Magnusson (1997), I. Milchtaich
(1995), B. Minshull (1995), D. R. Moore (1996-97), K. Mullarney (1995 (I)), Naturetrek (1994-97, per MC, RIB
& IJA), K. O. Pierce (1995 (I)), C. M. Poole (1994), R. F. Porter (1995, 1997), J. M. Reid (1997 (I)), J. Reyate
(1995-97), Dr R. Riddington (1997 (1)), A. Schuster (1995), Natur-Studenreisen (1995, per J. Wittenberg), J.
Tafforeau (1995), S. Thompson (1997), M. H. Thurston (1996), R. van der Vliet (1995-96), R. M. Ward (1997),
K. B. Wills (1995 (I)) and M. A. F. Yousef (1996, per C. Harbard).
We thank Mike Evans for checking and commenting on the report. HS also thanks M. San Roman for help
in computerising his past year’s records.
REFERENCES
AMR, Z. S., AL-MELHIM, W. N AND YOUSEF, M. A. (1997) Mammal remains from pellets of the Eagle Owl,
Bubo bubo, from Azraq Nature Reserve, Jordan. Zool. Middle East 14: 5-10.
ANbREWS, I.J. (1995) The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Andrews, Musselburgh.
ANDREWS, LJ. (1996) Preliminary data on raptor passage in Jordan. Sandgrouse 18 (2): 36-45.
APPLETON, G. F., ADAMS, S. Y., CLARK, J. A., SIMONS, J. R. AND PEACH, W. J. (1997) Bird ringing in Britain and
Ireland in 1995. Ringing and Migration 18: 113-158.
BASHFORD, R. (1997) The first Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelianus in Jordan. Sandgrouse 19: 142-143.
Bates, P. J. J. AND HARRISON, D. L. (1989) New records of small mammals from Jordan. Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 40:
223-226.
EvANs, M. I. (1996) The first Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris in Jordan. Sandgrouse 18 (2): 64.
Evans, M. I. AND AL-MASHAQBAH, S. (1996) Did Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus formerly breed in
Jordan? Sandgrouse 18 (2): 61.
HANSSON, E., MAGNUSSON, A. AND ERIKSSON, P. (1998) The first Mute Swan of olor and Radde’s
Accentor Prunella ocularis in Jordan. Sandgrouse 20: 46-47.
Kappes, E. AND Kappes, W. (1981) Naturkundliche Studien in Jordaniens Wiisten-Nationalpark Azraq—26
April bis 2 Mai 1980. Sonderheft Deutscher Bund Fiir Vogelschutz LV Hamburg 9: 139-148.
KHovRY, F. (1996) Observations on the avifauna of the Azraq wetland. Sandgrouse 18 (2): 52-57.
KHoury, F. (1997) The first Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillis in Jordan. Sandgrouse 19: 68.
KHoury, F. (1998) The breeding birds of the Sharra Highland Plateau, Jordan. Sandgrouse 20: 22-29.
KINZELBACH, R. K. (1986) New records of Goliath Heron, Yellow-billed Stork, Blyth’s Reed Warbler and
Clamorous Reed Warbler in the Middle East. Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 17: 13-17.
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai 33
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
MINSHULL, B. C. (1996) The first Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalus in Jordan. Sandgrouse 18 (2): 69.
MorGAN, J. AND SHIRIHAI, H. (1992) Streaked Shearwaters in Israel—a new Western Palearctic bird. Birding
World 5: 344-347.
NELSON, J. B. (1973) Azraq: Desert Oasis. Allen Lane, London.
ROSELAAR, C. S. (1995) Songbirds of Turkey: an atlas of biodiversity of Turkish passerine birds. Pica Press,
Mountfield.
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE (RSCN) (1995a) Dana Nature Reserve, phase I bird survey,
October-November 1994. Unpubl. report. RSCN, Jordan
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE (RSCN) (1995b) Dana Nature Reserve, phase II bird
survey, March—May 1995. Unpubl. report. RSCN, Jordan.
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE (RSCN) (1996) Survey of the birds of Mujib Nature
Reserve—March 1996. Unpubl. report. RSCN, Jordan.
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE (RSCN) (1997a) Survey of birds within the proposed
buffer zone, Dana Nature Reserve, 18-27 March 1997. Unpubl. report. RSCN, Jordan.
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE (RSCN) (1997b) Dana Nature Reserve: status and
conservation of the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in the Dana Wildlife Reserve and its surroundings.
Unpubl. report. RSCN, Jordan.
VAN DER SCHOT, W. E. M. (1989) Atlantic Petrel in Israel in April 1989. Dutch Birding 11: 170-172.
SHIRIHAL, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1999) Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on
identification. Sandgrouse 21: 45-105.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND CHRISTIE, D. A. (1992) Raptor migration at Eilat. Brit. Birds 85: 141-186.
Snow, D. W. AND PERRINS, C. M. (eds.) (1998) Birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise edition. Vol. 2. Oxford
University Press
SUTARI, A. (1996) The birds of Jordan. RSCN, Amman, Jordan (in Arabic).
TRISTRAM, H. B. (1873) The Land of Moab: travels and discovery on the east side of the Dead Sea and the Jordan.
London.
WITTENBERG, J. (1983) Vogelkundliche Ergebnisse einer naturkundlichen Forschungsreise nach Jordanien
(10.4. bis 14.5.1983). Sonderheft Deutscher Bund Fiir Vogelschutz LV Hamburg 11: 127-153.
WITTENBERG, J. (1987) Zur Vogel-Fauna einer semiariden Gebirgsregion in Stid-Jordanien (Petra und
Umgebung) (Aves). Verh. Naturwiss. Ver. Hamburg 29: 5-49.
lan. J. Andrews, 39 Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh, Midlothian EH21 6UW, U. K.
Fares Khoury, Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig,
Adenauerellee 160, 53113, Bonn, Germany.
Hadoram Shirihai, P. O. Box 4168, Eilat 88102, Israel.
APPENDIX 1. LIST OF SPECIES NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAIN REPORT.
Records of the following species were submitted to the Jordan Bird Report, but were not included due to
constraints of space. Full details for any of these species are available from IJA on request. Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis (new maximum count), Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis (new maximum
count), Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea (first in February), White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus (one
record), Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (summer records), Black Stork
Ciconia nigra (earliest date), White Stork C. ciconia (first winter record), Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (large
numbers), Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, Wigeon Anas penelope, Mallard A. platyrhynchos, Pintail A. acuta (late
record), Garganey A. querquedula (first in winter), Shoveler A. clypeata (late record), Pochard Aythya ferina
(new winter site), Ferruginous Duck A. nyroca, Tufted Duck A. fuligula (large numbers), Honey Buzzard
Pernis apivorus (largest single-day count), Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (winter), Hen Harrier C. cyaneus
(winter range extension), Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus (first summer records in the south), Levant
Sparrowhawk A. brevipes (early and late dates), Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (nest sites), Lesser
Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina (latest records in spring and autumn), Steppe Eagle A. nipalensis (possible
wintering), Golden Eagle A. chrysaetos (may breed in Southern Rift margins), Booted Eagle Hieraaetus
pennatus (first winter record), Osprey Pandion haliaetus, Merlin Falco columbarius (first in Wadi Araba),
Hobby F. subbuteo (further breeding evidence), Sooty Falcon F. concolor, Lanner Falcon F. biarmicus,
Barbary Falcon F. pelegrinoides (breeding sites), Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi, Black Francolin
Francolinus francolinus (one record), Quail Coturnix coturnix (earliest date and July record), Water Rail Rallus
aquaticus (new sites), Spotted Crake Porzana porzana, Little Crake P. parva, Baillon’s Crake P. pusilla (first
record away from Azraq), Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor, Collared
Partincole Glareola pratincola, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius (new possible breeding sites), Ringed
Plover C. hiaticula (first winter record since 1960s), Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus (new possible breeding
sites), Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus (new possible breeding site), Little Stint Calidris minuta
34 Ian J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai
Jordan Bird Report 1995-97
(winter flock), Temminck’s Stint C. temminckii (earliest date), Curlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea, Ruff
Philomachus pugnax (winter record), Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Common Redshank Tringa totanus,
Greenshank T. nebularia (winter record), Green Sandpiper T. ochropus (summer records), Wood Sandpiper
T. glareola, Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucus (first winter record since 1960s), Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatus (first Aqaba record), Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus, Black-headed Gull Larus
ridibundus, Slender-billed Gull L. genei (winter records), Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinnans (winter records),
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica (autumn records), Caspian Tern Sterna caspia, Sandwich Tern S.
sandwichensis, Common Tern S. hirundo, Black Tern Chlidonias niger, Whiskered Tern Chilidonias hybridus
(few records), Rock Dove Columba livia (large counts), Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis (increase in
Rum Desert and new site), Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri (continued expansion), Cuckoo Cuculus
canorus (earliest record), Barn Owl Tyto alba (new site), Little Owl Athene noctua, Long-eared Owl Asio otus,
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (new sites), Common Swift Apus apus (latest record and probable
breeding), Pallid Swift A. pallidus (earliest record), Alpine Swift A. melba, Little Swift A. affinis, Common
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis, European Bee-eater Merops apiaster (range extension), European Roller Coracias
garrulus (range extension), Hoopoe Upupa epops (range extension), Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes
cincturus, Desert Lark A. deserti (large flock and altitudinal movements), Thick-billed Lark Ramphocoris
clotbey, Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens (more breeding records), Crested Lark Galerida cristata,
Skylark Alauda arvensis (southward winter range extension), Temminck’s Horned Lark Eremophila bilopha
(first record in Wadi Araba), Sand Martin Riparia riparia (earliest and latest records), African Rock Martin
Ptyonoprogne fuligula (large counts), Crag Martin P. rupestris, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, Red-rumped
Swallow H. daurica (evidence of nesting in south), Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis (latest record), Meadow Pipit
A. pratensis, Water Pipit A. spinoletta (new sites), Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, Citrine Wagtail M. citreola,
Grey Wagtail M. cinerea, White Wagtail M. alba, Robin Erithacus rubecula, Thrush Nightingale Luscinia
luscinia (large fall), Common Nightingale L. megarhynchos (breeding along Jordan River), Bluethroat L.
svecica, Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus (latest record), Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
(winter records), Desert Wheatear O. deserti (possible Asian migrant), Red-rumped Wheatear O. moesta,
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius, Song Thrush Turdus philomelos (earliest record), Cetti’s Warbler
Cettia cetti, Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinoides, Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon (breeding
along Jordan River), Great Reed Warbler A. arundinaceus, Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans, Sardinian
Warbler S. melanocephalus (records from Dana area), Ruppell’s Warbler S. rueppelli, Arabian Warbler S.
leucomelaena, Barred Warbler S. nisoria, Garden Warbier S. borin, Blackcap S. atricapilla, Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita (latest spring record), Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis, Great Tit Parus major (late
breeding), Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor, Woodchat Shrike L. senator, Brown-necked Raven Corvus
ruficollis, Fan-tailed Raven C. rhipidurus (large flocks), Starling Sturnus vulgaris (records in south), House
Sparrow Passer domesticus (colonisation of Dana camp), Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia (first Rum record),
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs (latest record), European Serin Serinus serinus (earliest record), Greenfinch
Carduelis chloris (southward range extension), Linnet C. cannabina, Rock Bunting Emberiza cia (latest record
and two new winter sites in south), House Bunting EF. striolata, and Black-headed Bunting E. melanocephala.
APPENDIX 2. ESCAPES
*Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria (Amman 1 Apr 1995: first record); *Indian Silverbill Euodice
malabarica (c. 8, Jordan Valley 27 Oct 1994 and one at Aqaba (I) 29 Mar 1997, 4, 1 Apr).
APPENDIX 3. ADDITIONAL SPECIES MENTIONED IN SUTARI (1996)
The following potential new species for Jordan are mentioned without supporting details: Dalmatian
Pelican Pelecanus crispus (rare migrant to Azraq and the Jordan Valley); Mute Swan Cygnus olor (rare and
irregular winter visitor to Azraq and reservoirs [presumably those in the Northern Rift Margins], which has
since been recorded at Azraq: Hansson et al. 1998); Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax (rare winter visitor to Aqaba).
lan J. Andrews, Fares Khoury and Hadoram Shirihai 35
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 36-44 1999
A checklist of the birds of Israel and Jordan
HADORAM SHIRIHAI, IAN J. ANDREWS, GUY M. KIRWAN
AND PETER DAVIDSON
INTRODUCTION
This checklist is based on information available up to and including August 1998.
Taxonomy and nomenclature largely follows BWP Concise. All species currently
regarded as having been reliably recorded in Israel and Jordan are included. Israel is
defined as the state of Israel, West Bank, Gaza and Golan Heights. Breeding species
regarded as nationally threatened in Israel are denoted * in accordance with Nathan,
R., Safriel, U. N. and Shirihai, H. (1996) Extinction and vulnerability to extinction at
distribution peripheries: an analysis of the Israeli breeding avifauna. Isr. J. Zool. 42:
1-23. Information concerning the status abbreviations used is presented below.
STATUS ABBREVIATIONS
R resident with definite breeding records PM passage migrant
SB breeding summer visitor t transient (present throughout the year
S non-breeding summer visitor PDN fetes)
“Vv vagrant
ob occasional breeder and regular non- [v]
breeding summer vistor vagrant recorded in Jordanian territory /
waters from outside the country
fb former breeder e extinct
WV winter visitor ? status uncertain during the relevant season
Lower case abbreviations e.g. wv or pm denote species which are generally
uncommon during the relevant season. This is a necessarily subjective categorisation
which is designed merely to offer an unavoidably crude assessment of status.
Inevitably, future revision will become appropriate in some cases.
Species Status in Israel Status in Jordan
[_] Ostrich Struthio camelus eC e
[_] Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata Vv
[_] Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica V [v]
[_] Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis R,SB,PM,WV ?fb, WV
[_] Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus ob,fb,s,pm,WV pm,wv
[_] Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Vv
[_] Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus V
[_] Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis fb,s,pm,WV pm,wv
|_| Shy Albatross Diomedea cauta Vv
[_] Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis Vv [v]
[_] Fea’s Petrel Pterodroma feae Vv
[_] Atlantic Petrel Pterodroma incerta V [v]
[_] Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea pm,wv,s pm
[_] Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas V [v]
[_] Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes V [v]
[_] Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis Vv
[_] Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus pm,wv pm
[_] Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus Vv
[_] Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan pm,wv
[_] Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis Vv
[_] Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus Vv
[_] Mascarene/ Audubon’s Shearwater
P. atrodorsalisMhermihieri V
[_] Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus V [v]
[_] Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus Vv
[_] Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa wv
36 Hadoram Shirihai, lan J]. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson
[_] Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis
[_] Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro
[_] Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
[_] Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
[_] Gannet Morus bassanus
[|] Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
|_|] White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax (carbo)
lucidus
|_] Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus
_] Darter Anhinga rufa
[_] White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
[_] Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus
[_] Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
[_] Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
[_] Bittern Botaurus stellaris
[_] Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
~ LJ] Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
[_] Green-backed Heron Butorides striatus
[_] Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
[_] Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
[_] Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca
[_] Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis
[_] Little Egret Egretta garzetta
[_] Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
[_] Great White Egret Egretta alba
[_] Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
[_] Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
[_] Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
(_] Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
[_] Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
[_] Black Stork Ciconia nigra
[_] White Stork Ciconia ciconia
[_] Marabou Leptoptilos crumeniferus
[_] Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
[_] Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita
[_] Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
[_] Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
[_] Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica
~ [_] Mute Swan Cygnus olor
[_] Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickit
[_] Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
[_] White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
[_] Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
[_] Greylag Goose Anser anser
[_] Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
L_] Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
[_] Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
[| Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
[_] Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus
[_] Wigeon Anas penelope
[_] Faleated Duck Anas falcata
[_] Gadwall Anas strepera
[ | Teal Anas crecca
[_] Cape Teal Anas capensis
[_] Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
[_] Pintail Anas acuta
[-] Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha
[_] Garganey Anas querquedula
[_] Shoveler Anas clypeata
[_] Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris
[_] Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
[_] Southern Pochard Netta erythropthalma
[_] Pochard Aythya ferina
A checklist of the birds of Israel and Jordan
Vv
wv,t
wv
s,pm,WV
Vv
i ,pm,wv
WV (formerly)
s, PM,WV
Vv
Vv
Vv
pm,wv
sb*,PM,wv
R,SB,PM,WV
WV;,S
sb,PM,wv
R,pm,wv
4
cE
R,SB,PM,WV
s,ypm,WV
V
fb,s, PM,WV
sb*,PM,wv
Vv
V
s,PM,WV
s,sb*,PM,WV
V
r*,S, PM,wv
V
s,ypm,WV
S,pm,wv
V
wv
pm,wv
V
Vv ¥
s,pm,wv
s,pm,WV
s,PM,WV
s,pm,wv
s, PM,WV
V
r,PM,WV
s,PM,WV
V
ob,PM,wv
ob,PM,WV
r™,pm,wv
s,pm,WV
V
s,PM,WV
[v]
wv, t
pm,wv
WV (formerly)
WV (formerly)
pm
lv]
wv
sb,PM,?wv
sb,PM
Vv
sb,PM
r,PM
t
r,PM
V
pm,wv,?s
[v]
r,PM
sb,PM
V
[v]
PM,wv
PM,?wv
pm
pm
WV
pm,WV
fb,WV
pm,WV
?fb,PM,?wv
pm,WV
pb,pm
pm,wv
pm,wv
Hadoram Shirihai, lan J]. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson
37
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
[_] Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
[_] Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
[_] Scaup Aythya marila
[_] Eider Somateria mollissima
[_] Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
[] Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca
[_] Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
[| Smew Mergellus albellus
[_] Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
[_] Goosander Mergus merganser
[_] White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
(_] Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
[_] Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
[_] Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
[_] Black Kite Milvus migrans
[_] Red Kite Milvus milvus
[_] White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
[_] Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus
LJ Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
__] Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
[_] Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus
(_] Black Vulture Aegypius monachus
[_] Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
[_] Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
[_] Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
[_] Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
[_] Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
[_] Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus
[_] Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates
L_] Goshawk Accipter gentilis
[_] Sparrowhawk Accipter nisus
[_] Shikra Accipter badius
[_] Levant Sparrowhawk Accipter brevipes
[|] Buzzard Buteo buteo
[_] Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus
[_] Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus
[_] Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
[_] Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
[_] Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
|_| Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
[_] Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
[_] Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
_] Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxti
_] Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
[_] Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus
L_] Osprey Pandion haliaetus
[_] Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
[_] Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
[_] Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus
[_] Merlin Falco columbarius
|_] Hobby Falco subbuteo
[_] Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae
L_] Sooty Falcon Falco concolor
[_] Lanner Falco biarmicus
[_] Saker Falco cherrug
[_] Peregrine Falco peregrinus
[_] Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides
[_] Chukar Alectoris chukar
[_] Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi
[_] Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus
[_] Quail Coturnix coturnix
[_] Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
_] Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
38 Hadoram Shirihai, lan J. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson
sb*,pm,wv
s,PM,WV
sb*,s, PM,WV
V
fb,pm,wv
r*(prob. extinct breeder)
SB,PM,wv
rpm,wv
r* (extinct as breeder) |
fb,s,pm,wv
SB,PM,wv
V
fb,s,PM,WV
s,pm,WV
s,PM,wv
PM,wv
V
pm,wv
sb*,PM,WV
V
PM
ob,PM,WV
R,pm,WV
V
PM,wv
fb,s,pm
V
PM,wv
pm,wv
Re
fb,wv
PM,wv
sb*,PM,wv
ob,PM,WV
PM,wv
pm
PM,WV
[v]
fb
ob,PM
r
fb,v
V
SB,PM -
?fb, PM, wv
pm,wv
PM,wv
PM
pm
?sb,pm,WV
PM
PM
R
V
pm
Vv
PM,wv
pm,WV
R
PM,,?s
fb,pm,wv
pm
A checklist of the birds of Israel and Jordan
[_] Little Crake Porzana parva
[_] Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla
[_] Corncrake Crex crex
L_] Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
[_] Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio
[_] Coot Fulica atra
[_] Crane Grus grus
[_] Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo
[_] Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax
[_] Houbara Chlamydotis undulata
[ |] Great Bustard Otis tarda
[_] Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis
[_] Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
[_] Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
[ |] Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
[_] Crab Plover Dromas ardeola
[_] Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
[_] Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor
[_] Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
[_] Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
[_] Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
[_] Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
[_] Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius
[_] Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
[_] Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus
[_] Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
[_] Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus
[_] Dotterel Charadrius morinellus
[_] Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
[-] Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
[_] Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
(| Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus
[_] Blackhead Plover Vanellus tectus
[_] Red-wattled Plover Vanellus indicus
[_] Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius
[_] White-tailed Plover Vanellus leucurus
[_] Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
[_] Great Knot Calidris tenutrostris
[_] Knot Calidris canutus
[_] Sanderling Calidris alba
[_] Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
[_] Little Stint Calidris minuta
[_] Temminck’s Stint Calidris temmincki
[_] Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
[_] Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
[_] Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
[_] Dunlin Calidris alpina
[_] Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus
[_] Ruff Philomachus pugnax
[_] Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
[_] Snipe Gallinago gallinago
[_] Great Snipe Gallinago media
[_] Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura
[_] Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala
[_] Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
[_] Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
[_] Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
[_] Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
|] Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
[|] Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris
[_] Curlew Numentius arquata
[_] Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
[_] Redshank Tringa totanus
s,PM,wv
fb,s,pm,wv
pm
R,SB,PM,WV
V
ob*,PM,WV
PM,WV
pm
pm,wv
R*
V
v (ob)
pm,wv
R,SB,PM,WV
s,ob,PM,wv
sb*,PM,wv
s,PM,WV
V
rPM WY.
V
s, PM wv
pm
pm,wv
V
pm,WV
s, PM,wv
R,PM,WV
V
V
pm,wv
pm,wv
s (ob),PM,WV
V
V
PM,wv
V
PM,WV
PM,wv
V
V
PM,wv
PM,WV
pm
PM,wv
pm,wv
PM,WV
pm
V
V
V
pm,WV
PM,WV
pm,wv
s,pm,wv
V
s,pm,wv
PM,WV
s,PM,WV
pm
SB,PM
SB,PM
[v]
sb,pm
SB,pm
SB,PM
=
sb,PM
PM,wv
SB,PM,WV _
SB,PM,?wv
pm
WV
pm
pm
PM,WV
| Hadoram Shirihai, Ian J]. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson
3g
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
[_] Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
[-] Greenshank Tringa nebularia
[_] Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
[_] Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
[] Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
[_] Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
[-] Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
[_] Turnstone Arenaria interpres
[_] Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
[_] Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria
[_] Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus
[_] Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
[_] Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus
[_] Great Skua Catharacta skua
[_] South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki
[| Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii
[_] White-eyed Gull Larus leucopthalmus
[_] Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus
[_] Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocepahlus
[_] Little Gull Larus minutus
[_] Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini
[_] Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
[_] Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus
[_] Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus
[_] Slender-billed Gull Larus genei
[| Audouin’s Gull Larus audouini
[|] Common Gull Larus canus
[_] Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
[_] Herring Gull Larus argentatus
[_] Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans
[_] Armenian Gull Larus armenicus
[_] Heuglin’s Gull Larus heuglini
[_] Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
[_] Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
[_] Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
[_] Gull-billed Tern Sterna niloctica
[_] Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
L_] Swift Tern Sterna bergii
[_] Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis
[_] Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
[_] Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
[_] Common Tern Sterna hirundo
[_] Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
[_] White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa
[_] Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus
[_] Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata
_] Little Tern Sterna albifrons
[_] Saunders’ Tern Sterna saunders
L_] Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
_] Black Tern Chlidonias niger
L_] White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
[_] African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris
[_] Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinit
[_] Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus
[_] Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus
[_] Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus
[_] Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis
[_] Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata
[_] Rock Dove Columba livia
[_] Stock Dove Columba oenas
[_] Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
[_] African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea
[_] Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
40) Hadoram Shirihat, lan J. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson
PM,wv
PM,wv
V
PM,WV
PM,wv
pm
PM,WV
PM,WV
s,pm
Vv
S,pm,wv
s,PM,wv
S,pm,wv
V
Vv
V
S,R (without breeding)
pm,WV
pm,wv
s,pm,WV
V
s, PM,WV
V
V
s, PM wv
Vv
pm,wv
s,PM,WV
V
ry PIM WV
s,pm,WV
PM,wv
V
V
pm,wv
PM
pm,t
V
S
S,pm,wv
V
SB,PM
V
S
S
V
SB*,PM
V
fb,s, PM,wv
fb,s,pm
s,PM,wv
V
R,wv
R*,WV
R
pm,WV
pm,WV
Vv
R
PM
PM,?wv
PM,WV,2s
PM
V
PM,?wv
pim
pm
sb,PM
WV
V
[v]
R
——————————————————————-. EE ee
[_] Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
[_] Rufous Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
[_] Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
[_] Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
[_] Ring-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
[_] Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius
[_] Didric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
[|] Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
[_] Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus
[_] Barn Owl Tyto alba
[_] Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei
[_] Scops Owl Otus scops
[_] Eagle Owl Bubo bubo
[_] Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis
[_] Little Owl Athene noctua
[|] Tawny Owl Strix aluco
[_] Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri
[_] Long-eared Owl Asio otus
L_] Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
[_] Nubian Nightjar Caprimulgus nubicus
L_] Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
L_] Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius
[_] Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
[_] Swift Apus apus
_] Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
[_] Little Swift Apus affinis
[_] White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
__] Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
[_] Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
[_] Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
[_] Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus
[_] Bee-eater Merops apiaster
[_] Roller Coracias garrulus
|_|] Hoopoe Upupa epops
[_] Wryneck Jynx torquilla
[_] Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopus syriacus
[_] Chestnut-headed Sparrow-lark Eremopterix signata
[_] Black-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix nigriceps
[ | Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda dunni
[_] Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus
[_] Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti
[_] Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes
[J] Thick-billed Lark Ramphocoris clotbey
[_] Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra
[_] Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata
| Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
[| Hume’s Lark Calandrella acutirostris
[_] Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens
[_] Crested Lark Galerida cristata
[_] Woodlark Lullula arborea
[_] Skylark Alauda arvensis
[_] Small Skylark Alauda gulgula
[_] Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris
[|] Temminck’s Horned Lark Eremophila bilopha
[_] Brown-throated Sand Martin Riparia paludicola
[_] Sand Martin Riparia riparia
[] Pale Crag Martin Hirundo fuligula obsoleta
[_] Crag Martin Hirundo rupestris
[|] Swallow Hirundo rustica
[_] Ethiopian Swallow Hirundo aethiopica
[_] Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
[_] House Martin Delichon urbica
[_] Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi
A checklist of the birds of Israel and Jordan
SB,PM
V
R
r*,sb,wv
r (introduced)
SB,pm,wv
V
sb,PM
V
R
fb,wv
SB,PM,wv
R
e (formerly r)
R
R
R
r,pm,wv
fb/ob,pm,wv
r,s
fb,s, PM,wv
fb,s,pm.
SB,PM,wv
SB,PM,wv
SB,PM,wv
R,pm,wv
s,PM,wv
R
R
sb*,pm
SB,PM
SB,PM
R,SB,PM,WV
s,PM,wv
R
V
V
nomadic breeder
R,pm
R
sb*,PM,WV
PM,WV
pm,wv
r/sb*
r*,sb,pm
V
fb,s, PM, wv
R,PM,WV
sb*,pm,WV
R,SB,PM,WV
V
SB,PM,wv
sb,PM,wv
pm,wv
SB,PM
R
?r,pm
R (introduced)
?sb,pm
?sb,pm
Yr
fae
SB,pm
r
?r (prob. extinct)
?sb,PM,WV
r,wv
R
sb,pm
SB,PM
2sb,PM
r,PM
PM,?2wv
pm
Hadoram Shirihai, lan J]. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson
41
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
_] Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewsku Vv
[_] Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris sb*,PM,wv Sole
[_] Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis R R
[_] Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni V [v]
[-] Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis PM,wv PM ;
[_] Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis pm,WV pm,WV
[_] Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus PM,WV PM,WV :
[_] Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta PM,WV WV 7
[_] Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens pm,wv :
[] Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava sb*,PM,wv sb,PM
[_] Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola sb?,pm,wv pm,?sb
[_] Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea PM,WV pm,wv
[-] White Wagtail Motacilla alba sb*,PM,WV PM,WV
[_] White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys Vv Vv
[_] Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos R R
[_] Waxwing Bomycilla garrulus V
[_] Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus V
[_] Wren Troglodytes troglodytes R,wv R
[J Dunnock Prunella modularis pm,WV WV |
[_] Radde’s Accentor Prunella ocularis wv Ny |
[_] Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis V 4
[_] Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris wv Vv
[_] Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes SB,PM SB,PM
[_] Black Bush Robin Cercotrichas podobe sb? (otherwise v) .
[_] Robin Erithacus rubecula s,PM,WV WV .
C Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia PM PM :
(_] Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos sb,PM sb,PM
[_] Bluethroat Luscinia svecica PM,WV PM,WV +
[_] Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus Vv
|] White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis sb*,pm pm :
[_] Eversmann's Redstart Phoenicurus erythronotus —_v :
[_] Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros SB*,PM,WV PM,WV ’
L_] Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus PM,wv PM ;
[_] Blackstart Cercomela melanura R R ;
[_] Whinchat Saxicola rubetra PM PM
[_] Stonechat Saxicola torquata PM,WV PM,WV
[_] Pied Stonechat Saxicola caprata Vv
[_] Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina r,PM,wv SB,pm,wv
[_] Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe sb*,PM,wv PM
[_] Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka pm
[_] Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca pm pm
[_] Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica SB,PM SB,PM
[_] Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti R,pm,wv R
[_] Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii ob,pm,WV WV
[_] Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesta ob R
L_] Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna pm,wv Vv
[_] Eastern Pied Wheatear Oenanthe picata Vv
[_] Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens R R
[_] Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha r R
[_] White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga R R
[_] Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura V
[_] Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis sb*,pm PM
[_] Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius R,pm,wv R,pm
[_] Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus pm,wv Vv
[_] Blackbird Turdus merula R,pm,wv R,wv
|_] Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus Vv
[_] Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanni Vv
[_] Black-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis Vv
[_] Fieldfare Turdus pilaris pm,wv WV
[_] Song Thrush Turdus philomelos PM,WV WV
[_] Redwing Turdus iliacus pm,wv Vv
{ |] Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus pm,wv wv
[_] Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti R,pm,WV R
42 Hadoram Shirihai, lan J]. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson
|
|
A checklist of the birds of Israel and Jordan
[_] Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
[_] Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis R
[_] Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta R R
V
Vv
R,SB fb,pm
[_] Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola
[_] Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia Vv
[_] River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis pm pm
[_] Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides sb*, PM, wv fb,pm
[_] Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon — r*,pm,WV r,wv
[_] Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola Vv
[_] Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus PM,wv PM
[_] Paddyfield Warbler Acrocepalus agricola Vv
[_] Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Vv
[_] Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris pm Vv
[_] Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus SB,PM,wv SB,PM
[_] Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus R fae
[_] Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus __sb*,PM,wv fb,pm
[_] Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis Vv
[_] Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis Vv
[_] Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida SB,PM SB,PM
[_] Booted Warbler Hippolais calligata Vv pm
[_] Upcher’s Warbler Hippolais languida SB,pm SB,pm
[_] Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum sb*,pm pm
[_] Icterine Warbler Hippolais tcterina pm pm
[_] Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata R,pm,wv R,wv
[_] Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans pm pm
[_] Ménétries’s Warbler Sylvia mystacea V pm
[_] Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala R,SB,PM,WV R,wv
[_] Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax PM,WV wv
[_] Ruippell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli PM pm
[_] Desert Warbler Sylvia nana pm,wv pm,wv
[_] Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena ies R
[_] Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis SB,PM SB,PM
[_] Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria pm PM
[_] Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca SB,PM wv sb,PM
[_] Whitethroat Sylvia communis SB,PM sb,PM
[_] Garden Warbler Sylvia borin PM PM
[_] Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla sb*, PM,wv PM,wv
[_] Green Warbler Phylloscopus (trochiloides) nitidus v
LJ Pallas’s Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Vv
[_] Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus = pm,wv
[_] Hume’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus humei wv
[_] Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi Vv
[| Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Vv
(| Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis sb*,PM ob,PM
[| Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix PM PM
[| Plain Willow Warbler Phylloscopus neglectus Vv
[_] Caucasian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus lorenzii Vv
[_] Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita PM,WV PM,WV
L_] Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus PM PM
[_] Goldcrest Regulus regulus wv Vv
|_] Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata SB,PM SB,PM
[_] Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva pm pm
[_] Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata pm PM
[J Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis PM PM
[_] Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca PM PM
[|] Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus wv
[_] Arabian Babbler Turdoides squamiceps R R
[_] Sombre Tit Parus lugubris R*
[_] Coal Tit Parus ater V
[_] Blue Tit Parus caeruleus V R
[_] Great Tit Parus major R R
[_] Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer te
[_] Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria wv Vv
Hadoram Shirthai, lan J. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson 43
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
[_] Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus s,PM,WV pm,wv
[_] Palestine Sunbird Nectarinia osea R R
[_] Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus sb,PM PM
[_] Isabelline Shrike Lantus isabellinus pm,wv pm
[_] Red-backed Shrike Lantus collurio SB*,PM PM,?wv
[_] Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Vv
[_] Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor PM PM
[_] Steppe Grey Shrike Lantus pallidirostris Vv Vv
[_] Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis R R
[_] Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator SB,PM SB,PM
[_] Masked Shrike Lantus nubicus SB,PM SB,PM
(| Jay Garrulus glandarius R R
[_] Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus wv
[_-] Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Vv
[_] Jackdaw Corvus monedula R* WV r,wv
[_] House Crow Corvus splendens R (introduced) R
[] Rook Corvus frugilegus s,pm,WV Vv
[_] Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix R R
[-] Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis R R
[_] Raven Corvus corax ig? r
[_] Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipdurus ie R
_] Tristram’s Grackle Onychognathus tristramii R R
[_] Amethyst Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster Vv
_] Starling Sturnus vulgaris s,PM,WV WV
[_] Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus pm (formerly bred) pm
(_] House Sparrow Passer domesticus R R
[_] Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis R,SB,PM,WV R,WV
[_] Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus R R
[_] Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Vv
[_] Pale Rock Sparrow Carpospiza brachydactyla sb*,PM sb,pm
[_] Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia xanthocollis Vv
_] Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia R R
[_] Indian Silverbill Lonchura malabarica
r (introduced)
_] Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs s,PM,WV WV
[_] Brambling Fringilla montifringilla pm,WV WV
[_] Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus pm,wv Vv
[ | Serin Serinus serinus R,PM,WV r,;WV
[_] Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus SB*,pm,wv R,pm,wv
[_] Greenfinch Carduelis chloris R,PM,WV R,wv
{| Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis R,PM,WV R,wv
[_] Siskin Carduelis spinus pm,WV wv
[_] Linnet Carduelis cannabina R,PM,WV R,wv
[_] Crossbill Loxia curvirostris ob,wv
[_] Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguinea sb*
[_] Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta R,pm,WV R
[_] Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus R
[_] Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus s,pm,wv Vv
[_] Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus r*,WV R
[_] Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes WV wv
[_] Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos WV Vv
[|] Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella wv WV
[_] Rock Bunting Emberiza cia 1*,wV wv
[_] House Bunting Emberiza striolata R R
[_] Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea pm pm
[_] Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana sb,PM ?sb,PM
[_] Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia SB,PM SB,PM
[_] Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Vv
L_] Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla V Vv
[_] Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola V
L_] Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus s,pm,WV wv
[_] Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps Vv
[_] Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala SB,PM,wv SB,PM
L_] Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra r,SB,PM,wWV sb,WV
44 Hadoram Shirihai, lan J. Andrews, Guy M. Kirwan and Peter Davidson
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998:
their discovery and documentation,
with tips on identification
HADORAM SHIRIHAI
INTRODUCTION
UCH OF THE LAST 15 YEARS I have spent writing and researching The birds of
Israel (Shirihai 1996). I have also devoted time to a wide variety of papers, many
_ based on migration studies at Eilat. Now appears an opportune moment to take a
fresh look at some of the records of birds new to Israel in whose discovery I was
involved. Most of the vagrants described here were discovered in the course of
~ research and not through single-minded rarity hunting. Finding and identifying rare
birds is always a pleasure, of course. Therefore, in a sense, this paper is an account of
some of my most memorable days spent birding.
The discovery and identification of 50 species of bird new to Israel found between
1979-1998 is described. Of these, 48 were found prior to the publication of The birds of
Israel and BWP Concise (Snow & Perrins 1998). The other two species included are
Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis (March 1997 but not certainly identified until
later that year) and Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala (February 1998). All have been
accepted by the Israeli Rarities and Distribution Committee (IRDC).
Each species account has been subdivided into five sections. The first lists all accepted
records in Israel, the Western Palearctic and Middle East. For those species recorded
regularly in the two latter-named regions, a summary of status is given. This is
followed by an anecdotal account of the circumstances leading to the first Israeli
occurrence, which provides the essential facts pertaining to the record. A full
description follows, similar to a formal submission to a rarities committee. Where it
appears helpful and my experience permits, I have included identification tips,
concentrating on separation from confusion species and poorly known characters and
plumages. The final section consists of a brief overview of the first record and its
wider implications, e.g. any changes that may have occurred in the species’ status.
Change is a recurring motif in this paper. The species accounts highlight changing
birding activity in Israel and the widespread habitat destruction that has occurred at
Eilat, where 45 of the new species were found. Relatively few European birdwatchers
visited Israel in the early 1980s, although there was also a group of c. 20, mainly
young, Israeli birders, who feature prominently in The birds of Israel and here. At that
time, the cultivated habitats near Eilat were restricted, providing an oasis-like
environment. Birders could watch the area with a thoroughness no longer
possible—dramatic agricultural expansion over the last 10-15 years means that the
density of migrants in the southern Arava Valley is now visibly much lower than it
was in the 1980s, with birds occurring throughout the area (Shirihai 1996). On the
other hand, the mean number of visiting birders has increased at least tenfold in this
period, with c. 500 at Eilat in late March and smaller numbers in autumn and winter.
The improved observer coverage has led to more birds being discovered.
Hadoram Shirihai 45
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 45-105 1999
Table 1
A First records from Eilat. B First records from elsewhere in Israel. C First records documented by photograph. D First records
documented by trapping. E First records seen by observers other than HS. F Subsequent records from Israel. G Subsequent
records from Israel documented by photograph. H First records for Western Palearctic.
B Cc D
1979 African Collared Dove
Yellow-breasted Bunting
1980 Pale-footed Shearwater
Bridled Tern
Sooty Tern
Buff-bellied Pipit
Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler
Atlantic Petrel
Balearic Shearwater
European Storm-petrel
Black Heron
Roseate Tern
Arctic Tern
Booted Warbler
Wilson’s Storm-petrel
Madeiran Storm-petrel
Lesser Sand Plover
Pectoral Sandpiper
South Polar Skua
Sooty Gull
Chestnut-headed Finch Lark
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler
Caucasian Chiffchaff
Pintail Snipe
Rufous Turtle Dove
Small Skylark
Basra Reed Warbler
Brown-headed Gull
Oriental Cuckoo
Brown-throated Sand Martin
Blyth's Reed Warbler
Amethyst Starling
Hume’s Short-toed Lark
Eastern Pied Wheatear
Black-headed Heron
Blyth’s Pipit
Green Warbler
Steppe Grey Shrike
Little Shearwater
Saunders’s Tern
Eastern Reed Warbler
Sabine’s Gull
Grey-headed Gull
Long-toed Stint
Streaked Shearwater
Mascarene/Audubon’s Shearwater
Tawny Eagle
Crested Honey Buzzard
Soft-plumaged Petrel
Swinhoe’s Snipe
46 Hadoram Shirihati
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
In connection with The birds of Israel, a rarities committee (IRDC) of three—Yaron
Baser, Ehud Dovrat and HS—were elected by Israel’s most active birders at Tel Aviv
on 7 December 1987 (Shirihai 1996). A larger committee was not viable, due to the
relatively small number of active Israeli birders. Indeed, a body organised according
to the north-west European model, in which records are assessed by panel-judgement
remains inappropriate to the situation in Israel. The immediate task facing the
committee was to decide which species and which records to include in The birds of
Israel, and to this end it received guidance from several well-established rarity
committees in western and northern Europe. In practice, the committee’s work proved
straightforward, as the number of records to be considered was small and nearly all
those of very rare birds involved at least one committee member as an observer. The
committee was strict in its judgements: only nine species seen by a single observer and
documented solely with field notes were admitted to the Israeli List. In each case the
observer had a proven record in field identification (Shirihai 1996).
This paper effectively submits 50 records to the international birdwatching
community, including 15 records of species not previously recorded in the Western
Palearctic. Details of 14 of these have already been published elsewhere. Most of the
information presented here is previously unpublished and the original field
- descriptions have never been published collectively. It is hoped that birders will avail
themselves of this opportunity to examine these records and that the paper will
contribute to the evolution of ornithology in Israel and the Middle East.
THE RECORDS AND THEIR DOCUMENTATION (SEE TABLE 1)
Full documentation is essential when dealing with records of extremely rare species,
particularly if the species is new to a country or region. The finder’s detailed field
description (A) should ideally be supported by the descriptions of other observers (B),
photographic evidence (C) and subsequent records from the same area (D). Of the 50
records presented here, 45 fulfill at least two of these criteria, nine meet two, 19 meet
three and 17 all four. To date, 29 of the 50 species have been photographed in Israel:
six (first and subsequent record(s)), 14 (first record only) and nine (subsequent
record(s) only).
Only two of 23 first records were photographed during 1979-1983, but 18 of 27 first
records were photographed in 1984-1998. This discrepancy is due to three factors:
ringing became much more intensive at Eilat after 1983, enabling in-the-hand
photograps; neither I or my colleagues owned a good camera in the early years; and a
_ relatively high proportion of the first records in 1979-1983 were pelagic species.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Photographs (Plates 1-20) of 20 species are included: 12 of first records and eight of
subsequent records. The other 30 species are illustrated by drawings by James P.
Smith, produced solely using only original descriptions and field sketches of the first
_ record (supplemented by poor quality photographs for eight species).
~ ATLANTIC PETREL Peerodroma incerta Southern Oceans
Hadoram Shirihai 47
First Israeli record: one on 31 May 1982, Eilat (HS in Ben Dov & Golan 1983). Also observed
by several European birders.
Subsequent Israeli records: one on 18-24 April 1989, Eilat. Seen by many observers;
photographed (van der Schot 1989).
Other regional records: no other Western Palearctic occurrences (Snow & Perrins 1998).
Recorded Gulf of Aden on 3 November 1985 (Welch & Welch 1986).
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Atlantic Petrel Pterodroma incerta.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
Background: at c. 06.00 hrs on 31 May, during the Eilat seabird survey in summer 1982, I
sighted a distant petrel displaying the arcing flight typical of a Pterodroma species. It flew
toward Eilat’s North Beach from the Jordanian side of the Gulf of Aqaba and landed 0.5-1 km
offshore among a raft of Cory’s Calonectris diomedea and Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus,
revealing the striking combination of a mainly dark plumage and white belly. Soon, the
shearwaters were disturbed by a mixed party of skuas and I lost contact with the petrel. I
spent 30 minutes waiting for it to reappear, then went to check my field guides. My
recollection of the bird appeared consistent with Atlantic Petrel, so I returned to North Beach
at 08.30 hrs, where a small group of birders had gathered. I soon relocated the petrel,
swimming alone just 150 metres offshore; its identification was immediately confirmed.
Although comparative reference material on Atlantic Petrel was virtually unavailable in 1982,
Peter Harrison studied the description and sketches I had made.
Distinguishing characters: a large petrel similar in size to Cory’s Shearwater, with distinctly
patterned, light-and-dark underparts. Compared to most Pterodroma species, the bird
appeared relatively short-tailed and somewhat wedge-shaped at the tip, with longer,
narrower wings giving it a proportionately broader and bulkier bodied appearance than other
Pterodroma petrels. The bird’s generally stocky feel was enhanced by its bull-neck and by large,
broad black bill, which had obvious tubes when seen well. At most distances, it seemed to
have almost uniformly dark, sooty brown upperparts, but at close range faint greyish brown
mottling was visible on the upperwing-coverts, mantle and neck, and there was a hint of
whitish grey mottling on the forehead and rear ear-coverts. The dark extended onto the head
and onto the breast, abruptly meeting the pure white underparts at the point where the
leading edge of the wing joined the body, the near-black underwing providing an equally
strong contrast. The dark flanks, vent and undertail-coverts were less sharply demarcated
from the white underparts. These plumage characters created the effect of a white belly patch
(seldom exposed when swimming). The upper and lower surfaces of the flight and tail
feathers were uniform, and the remiges lacked any indication of the pale basal area that often
produces a distinctive pale patch in other species of Pterodroma (see below).
Identification tips: Mark Beaman, Peter Harrison and Steve Madge (pers. comm.) have
pointed out that Atlantic Petrel could be confused with pale morph Herald Petrel P. armini-
jouiana at sea. The latter is smaller, with a different wing shape, more elongated tail and
diagnostic white patch at the base of the primaries.
Commentary: the most logical explanation for the species’ two occurrences in Eilat is that
these birds followed a route through the western Indian Ocean, from where there are a
handful of records (Harrison 1983, Shirihai 1987a, Enticott & Tipling 1997). :
48 Hadoram Shirihat
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL Pterodroma mollis Southern Oceans
First Israeli record: one on 25 March 1997, Eilat. Observed by HS, E. Hirschfeld and 30-50
other birders.
Other regional records: no other Western Palearctic records. Specimen collected from Dead
Sea in November 1968 and proposed as P. mollis by B. Zonfrillo (Shirihai 1996) was re-
examined by K. Mullarney and HS and found to be typical Fea’s Petrel P. feae, as originally
suggested by Bourne (1983a), Hovel (1987) and Shirihai (1987a).
Background: on the afternoon of 25 March, the line of birders must have stretched 150 metres
along North Beach when, at c. 17.30 hrs, a petrel came arcing over the bay to within 400 metres
of land. At least 30 birders managed to see the bird well for five minutes in the excellent late
afternoon light. Erik Hirschfeld and others immediately suggested the petrel was mollis rather
than feae, but its lack of a complete breast band led me to question this. Over the next weeks,
Erik and I prepared descriptions of the bird, which were sent to other observers and experts
on Pterodroma petrel identification. Finally, through experience of Soft-plumaged Petrel at sea
in the sub-Antarctic and examination of the collection at the Natural History Museum, Tring, I
concluded that the Eilat bird was P. mollis.
Distinguishing characters: (following sections co-authored by Erik Hirschfeld). Apparently a
medium-sized Pterodroma and judged to be no larger than Sooty Shearwater—although there
were no other birds with which to make a side-by-side comparison and the strong lighting
conditions may have exaggerated the bird’s actual size. Its wings were long and pointed,
especially in relation to its bulky body. The tail, which remained closed throughout, was
tapered and the body protruded well beyond the wings, giving it a rather elongated, wedge-
shaped rear-end appearance (see photograph 2, p. 65, Enticott & Tipling 1997). It was darkest
on the crown and the median- and greater-coverts; the rest of the upperwing was largely dark
to mid-grey, with perhaps slightly darker ‘hands’ and wingtips. The distinct white forehead
was sharply demarcated from the blackish crown, but there was no trace of a pale supercilium.
The mantle, back, rump and tail were concolorously dark to mid-grey, eliminating Fea’s
Petrel, which has a diagnostic pale greyish rump and uppertail. The entire underwing
appeared dark grey or black, and the throat to the undertail-coverts appeared white, except for
an incomplete band formed by pectoral patches on the breast sides (which faded along their
length, effectively reaching a point haifway between the wing-bases and centre of the body).
The dark bill was prominent.
Commentary: the following literature was useful: Bourne (1983b), Marchant & Higgins (1990),
Enticott (1991), Zonfrillo (1994), Gantlett (1995) and, especially, Tove (1997a,b). All of these
support the identification of the Eilat petrel as mollis, based on the concolorously dark
Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
f\
| Hadoram Shirihai 49
|
{
|
{
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
upperparts, rump and uppertail. These references also indicate that pectoral markings vary in
extent within mollis as well as feae: the former’s breast band is usually complete, appearing
broken to a varying degree in some individuals (but with breast-side patches always present).
The breast markings of the Eilat bird were sufficiently well developed to exclude the
possibility of even the most heavily marked Fea’s Petrel. The incomplete breast band, reduced
facial markings and apparently large size of the Eilat bird may indicate that it was from the
Southern Atlantic population, which is often regarded as subspecifically distinct (Marchant &
Higgins 1990, Enticott & Tipling 1997). However, Bourne (1983b and pers. comm.) suggests
that breeders on the Antipodes and Marion Islands (probably not P. m. dubia: contra Marchant
& Higgins 1990) are best regarded as a pale morph of the nominate form. Soft-plumaged
Petrel was recorded off Sri Lanka in September 1989, suggesting that the species can occur in
the northern Indian Ocean. Three other Eilat records (all in March—May) of Southern Ocean
Procellariiformes—one Shy Albatross Diomedea cauta and two Atlantic Petrels—may have
resulted from monsoon conditions in the western Indian Ocean forcing birds into the Red Sea.
STREAKED SHEARWATER Calonectris leucomelas western Pacific Ocean
First Israeli record: two, probably three, from 21 June (erroneously given as 27 June in Shirihai
1996) to 18 September 1992, Eilat (Morgan & Shirihai 1992, Shirihai 1996); two birds
photographed.
Subsequent Israeli records: one May-July 1993, Eilat (Shirihai 1996), possibly a returning
individual.
Other regional records: no other Western Palearctic occurrences; apparently a vagrant or
scarce visitor to the Arabian Sea (Harrison 1983, Porter et al. 1996).
Background: summer 1992 produced the best crop of seabird observations at Eilat since 1983.
Within just five days in June, the appearance of one vagrant led to the discovery of another
two, including Streaked Shearwater. On 17 June, I found the second Sabine’s Gull L. sabini for
Israel off Eilat’s North Beach. Next day, John Morgan and I unsuccessfully tried to relocate it.
Before long I located an elusive small shearwater. Unfortunately, the views were too poor to
permit identification. On 21 June, Bill Fletcher, John and I took a boat out into the bay to
obtain better views of the unidentified shearwater, which was eventually identified as Israel’s
first Mascarene Shearwater Puffinus atrodorsalis. Meanwhile, at c. 09.00 hrs, when we wete c.
3km offshore, I located a slightly darker, lighter built and pale-faced bird in a party of Cory’s
Shearwaters, which I immediately recognised as Streaked Shearwater. Bill and John, who were
paddling, automatically tried to take a look, nearly capsizing the boat. By the time we had
managed to stabilise it and relocate the bird, it became clear that we were surrounded by a
mixed flock of four species of shearwater, including over 50 Cory’s, four Sooty, the Mascarene
and at least two Streaked!
Distinguishing characters: smaller and more delicate than Cory’s Shearwater, especially in
flight. I was struck by the narrow wings and neck, smaller head, relatively slender bill and
longer tail. The upperparts were clearly darker than Cory’s, and the dorsal area was more
evenly sooty brown, with the dark extending through the crown, nape and neck as far as the
uppertail-coverts, upperwing and pectoral patches. The pale face was always obvious and
there was no sign of either a dark head relative to the upperparts or a pale, U-shaped pattern
on the uppertail-coverts (both characters shown by almost all Cory’s). Diagnostically dark
carpal patches (lacking in Cory’s) and broad, dark trailing edges to the underwing almost
reached the base of the remiges. In certain lighting, it seemed to have a rather distinct whitish
forehead and loral area; at close quarters a whitish eye-ring and fine, dark streaks on the face
were evident. The bill was dull greyish, with a darker tip.
Identification tips: field experience of both species demonstrates that the flight action of
Streaked Shearwater is less cumbersome than in Cory’s Shearwater. It also has slower, more
gentle wingbeats and holds its wings less stiffly, contributing to its rather graceful, ‘elastic’
flight quality. It is important to consider the possibility of confusion with a Cory’s whose
plumage has become discoloured through wear or bleaching, as this can result in birds with
unusually pale foreheads. For more information on the separation of Streaked Shearwater
50 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
from Cory’s Shearwater and other potential confusion species, see Harrison (1983), Morgan &
Shirihai (1992) and Enticott & Tipling (1997).
Commentary: it would have been easy to overlook the first Streaked Shearwaters at Eilat, as
they were among the similar-looking Cory’s Shearwater far from the nearest locality of
recorded vagrancy for their species (the Arabian Sea). It is exceptionally rare for these two
species to be observed side-by-side. Good fortune and prior knowledge of C. leucomelas played
a major part in the discovery.
PALE-FOOTED SHEARWATER Puffinus carneipes south Pacific and Indian Oceans
First Israeli record: one on 15 August 1980, Eilat (HS in Ben Dov & Golan (1983)). Also
observed by D. Stanton.
Other regional records: no other Western Palearctic records, although regular non-breeding
visitor Arabian Sea (Harrison 1983, Shirihai 1987a, Hirschfeld 1994, Porter et al. 1996).
Background: time spent recording returning migrants proved doubly beneficial in 1980,
because the seawatching was unexpectedly good that year (see also Bridled Sterna anaethetus
and Sooty Terns S. fuscata). On 15 August, at c. 14.00 hrs, I found an unusual-looking
shearwater among eight Cory’s Shearwater off North Beach and watched it for two hours,
during which it approached to within 400 metres. I was able to discount the Superficially
similar Sooty Shearwater, a species I was familiar with.
Distinguishing characters: size and mainly dark brown plumage similar to Sooty Shearwater,
but with broader, more rounded wings and a heavier body, producing a rather bulkier jizz
approaching Cory’s Shearwater. The uniformly dark underwing lacked the whitish grey flash
diagnostic of Sooty; the upperwing had pale or buffish upperwing-coverts (particularly
noticeable on the rear of the greater-coverts), although the upperwing appeared rather
uniform at a distance. At close range, the bill was strong-looking, with a pink base, and the
legs were pale pink.
Identification tips: Wedge-tailed Shearwater P. pacificus is a potential vagrant to Middle
Eastern waters, and its dark morph is reminiscent of Pale-footed Shearwater. However, the
former can be readily eliminated by virtue of its elongated, wedge-shaped tail, smaller head
and different wing shape, which is more angled at the carpal joint. Wedge-tailed also has a
relatively slender, uniformly dark bill.
Commentary: the relative abundance of Pale-footed and Sooty Shearwaters in the Arabian
Sea, where the former species occurs regularly and the latter is only a vagrant, is reversed in
the northern Red Sea. Their differing migration strategies presumably account for this: Sooty
reaches the Red Sea after moving north through the western Indian Ocean, continuing to Eilat
in an attempt to reach the northern oceans; Pale-footed reaches the westernmost limit of its
non-breeding range in the western Indian Ocean, and rarely reaches the Red Sea. Another
factor is the much larger world population of Sooty Shearwater.
Pale-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
| Hadoram Shirihai Ml
Plate 1. Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas, Gulf of Aqaba, Eilat, June 1992. The first Israel and Western Palearctic record.
(Hadoram Shirihai)
Plate 2. First-year Mascarene/Audubon’s Shearwater Puffinus atrodorsalis or P. Iherminieri, Eilat, June 1992. The first Israel record.
(Hadoram Shirihai).
oy Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Plate 3. Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus, Eilat, 14 May 1994. The first Israel and Western Palearctic record. (Hadoram
Shirihai).
—
- : a
co
Plate 4. Subadult Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax, Urim, north-west Negev, 1 November 1992.
i
The first Israel record. (Hadora
SOE
m Shirihai).
Hadoram Shirihai ays:
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
BALEARIC SHEARWATER Puffinus mauretanicus western Mediterranean
First Israeli record: one on 1 March 1982, Ma’agan Mikhael (HS sole observer).
Other regional records: no other recent records.
Background: following a series of storms, the sea at Ma’agan Mikhael was teeming with birds
on 1 March 1982. In mid-morning, while watching a Northern Gannet Sula bassana—scarce in
the eastern Mediterranean—I noticed a number of birds in the background, including several
Yelkouan/Mediterranean Shearwaters P. yelkouan (considered a race of Manx Shearwater P.
puffinus at the time). Soon afterwards, several more shearwaters appeared, c. 150 metres
offshore. One bird was unusual due to its heavily marked duskier underwing and body-sides.
I realised that it was the western Mediterranean race of Manx Shearwater and followed it for
ten minutes until it disappeared. While waiting in vain for it to return, I logged two Black-
throated Divers Gavia arctica—only the third Mediterranean record of this species for Israel.
Distinguishing characters: distinctly brown and dusky underparts (1.e. it was a particularly
well marked individual) quite different from the virtually black-and-white appearance of
Manx and Yelkouan Shearwaters. It appeared marginally heavier than Yelkouan, but very
similar in structure and jizz. However, it was much darker overall, almost recalling Sooty but
with a pale belly, throat and underwing-coverts. Most notable was the extensive brown tinge
to the chest, flanks, vent, undertail-coverts and axillaries; part of the underwing-coverts were
also dirty-looking, with the remainder (the base of the remiges) pale. The pale areas on the
throat, belly and underwing-coverts were washed, or mottled, pale brown, contributing to the
dusky appearance. The slightly darker breast band almost separated the throat from the belly.
Identification tips: confusion with Sooty Shearwater may arise when confronted with heavily
marked Balearic Shearwaters (usually young birds in autumn). However, the latter are usually
markedly smaller, by c. 25%, with a less bulky body and more rounded, shorter wings held
relatively stiffly (Sooty has narrower, pointed and angled wings). Unlike the near-uniform
Sooty, Balearic is normally darker on the crown and ear-coverts, with a paler throat and belly
set against broad, dark flanks. The pale area on Balearic’s underwing, although frequently
reduced by dusky brown markings, always appears larger and more diffuse than Sooty’s
restricted—almost rectangular—silver patch, concentrated on the outerwing and much
narrower on the inner coverts. Balearic’s flight is usually slower and less direct, appearing
rather ‘fluttering’ compared to Sooty.
Commentary: the Balearic/ Yelkouan Shearwater complex exhibits pronounced clinal
variation, becoming paler and perhaps smaller from west to east, and the two forms are
certainly very close genetically (Harrison 1983, Austin 1996, Shirihai et al. in press). This paper
follows widely recognized splits, e.g. by Snow & Perrins (1998).
Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
DO Is eee
Leena
54 Hadoram Shirihai
ae fee:
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
LITTLE SHEARWATER Puffinus assimilis southern and Atlantic Oceans
First Israeli record: one baroli on 23 January 1988, Ma’agan Mikhael (HS sole observer).
Subsequent Israeli records: one baroli at Ashdod Port on 15 January 1996 (B. Granit pers.
comm.).
Other regional records: vagrant Mediterranean from central-eastern Atlantic (Snow & Perrins
1998); presumably, all records involve baroli. No Red Sea records (contra Porter et al. 1996);
Eilat’s only small shearwater record is of the recently described Mascarene Shearwater.
Background: I was watching ten Yelkouan Shearwater and several tens of Little Gull L.
minutus at a freshwater outlet. The sea was calm and the lighting perfect. At c. 13.30 hrs, a
distinctly smaller black-and-white shearwater paused to feed, but unfortunately did not join
the group. I watched it for 3-4 minutes, and immediately identified it as a Little Shearwater of
the subspecies baroll.
Distinguishing characters: the bird was clearly smaller than the accompanying Yelkouan
Shearwaters, and had an eye-catching light-and-dark plumage. Overall, it looked compact,
due to its rounded body, short rounded wings and very short rear. The calm conditions meant
that the bird flew by rapid fluttering interspersed with short glides very low over the water,
giving little impression of a shearing action. The upperparts, including the upperwing and
crown, were jet black. The underparts, including the undertail-coverts, were white, but for an
indistinct blackish thigh patch (which enhanced the pure white sides to the vent) and the
relatively poorly developed blackish breast-side patches, which emphasised the white face:
the white throat extended beyond the ear-coverts to the upper eye-level and lores, isolating
the black eye from the narrow black crown. White underparts merged with the white
underwing; the underwing’s black leading and trailing edges, and wingtips were sharply
defined, albeit of restricted width (the leading edge, especially, was very thin). The short bill
and legs appeared dark.
Commentary: the occurrence of Little Shearwater in the eastern Mediterranean is a further
indication that this sea can at times be rich in tubenoses, e.g. wintering flocks of Leach’s
Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa are regularly recorded off Israel’s Mediterranean coastline
(Shirihai 1996), including a flock of 123 at Jaffa Port on 29 January 1998 (B. Granit pers.
comm..).
_ MASCARENE/AUDUBON’S SHEARWATER Puffinus atrodorsalis/herminieri western Indian Ocean
| First Israeli record: one from 18-21 June 1992, Eilat. Found with J. Morgan and observed by
several other birders, including E. Dovrat. Discussed at length, with photographs, in Shirihai
& Sinclair (1994), but species’ taxonomic status and identification require further study.
Other regional records: no other records outside western Indian Ocean.
Background: see Streaked Shearwater.
| Hadoram Shirihat 55
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
AN
ng-toed Stint Calidris subminuta, Eilat, August 1991. The first Israel record. (Hadoram Shirihai).
t, May 1983. The
56 Hadoram Shirihat
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Distinguishing characters: pure black above including the upperwing and head to below eye-
level; all-white below including the undertail-coverts; and rather extensive dark breast-side
patches. The pale underwing area was as extensive as in Little, but the remiges were clearly
dark basally. The pale areas on the bill and legs were mainly greyish blue.
Commentary: although similar to juvenile Audubon’s Shearwater of the race bailloni from the
wesiern Indian Ocean, the bird had a combination of characters unlike that of any form in the
Little/ Audubon’s complex known to us. Its ‘uniqueness’ as a form seems similar to that of the
race boydi of Little, which is regarded as specifically distinct by some authorities. The latter is
dark on the vent/undertail-coverts as well as the remige bases, but otherwise resembles
assimilis. At first, the Eilat bird was tentatively assigned to a southern form of Little
Shearwater. Following further study including comparison with other unidentified birds seen
off South Africa, the Comoros and the Mozambique Channel, HS and I. Sinclair speculated
that it might constitute an unnamed form of small shearwater (Shirihai & Sinclair 1994). A
specimen (Durban Museum, DNSM No. 36093) collected at Durban, South Africa, which
apparently matched these unidentified birds, was proposed as the type-specimen. It was
compared with extensive material (some of it loaned by other museums) at the Natural
History Museum, Tring, leading to the description of a new taxon, P. atrodorsalis (Shirihai et al.
1995).
The main problem which arose in naming P. atrodorsalis was its similarity to juvenile P. 1.
bailloni, which also has white undertail-coverts. Compared to adult bailloni, the juvenile has a
blacker dorsal area, narrower bill and greyer bare parts: all features closer to atrodorsalis (see
Bretagnole & Attié 1996). The validity of atrodorsalis has recently been investigated by analysis
of the type-specimen’s DNA, skeleton and morphometrics compared to bailloni (Shirihai et al.
in press). Two conclusions have been reached: the validation of atrodorsalis as a taxon must
await further museum study and the discovery of its breeding grounds; and if the new taxon
is accepted, its relationship with other, closely related, taxa in the Indian Ocean requires
clarification. Until such studies have been undertaken, it is proposed to classify the type-
specimen as species inguirendae. C. S. Roselaar (in BWP, CD-ROM edition) treats atrodorsalis,
whose type-specimen he has examined, as a race of P. lherminieri, and suggests that the Indian
Ocean forms of [herminieri might represent a separate species (c.f. Shirihai et al. 1995, Shirihai
& Christie 1996). It is interesting to note that M. Le Corre (pers. comm.) has recently
discovered a breeding population of a small shearwater on the Europa Islands, in the
Mozambique Channel, geographically nearer the type-locality of atrodorsalis than to the
known breeding range of bailloni. They possess long wings possibly close to atrodorsalis, but
apparently bailloni-like plumage characters; moreover, birds matching atrodorsalis have been
seen at sea in this area (Shirihai et al. 1995).
WILSON’S STORM-PETREL Oceanites oceanicus southern Oceans
First Israeli record: one on 1 June 1983, Eilat. Also seen by O. Horin; full accounts in Ben Dov
& Golan (1983) and Shirihai (1984). |
Other regional records: no other recent records from northern Red Sea, although regular non-
breeding summer visitor Arabian Sea (Harrison 1983, Shirihai 1987a, Hirschfeld 1994, Porter et
al. 1996).
Background: my excitement at finding Wilson’s Storm-petrel has since been surpassed only
by the discovery of Crested Honey Buzzard. Oz Horin and I were sponsored to census
migrant birds from mid-February-late July 1983. At that time, Eilat’s salt pans and the Kibbutz
Eilot plantations were small enough to be explored thoroughly by a single observer in just half
a day. We soon began a routine whereby one of us would spend the first half of the morning
seawatching and then count the waders on the salt pans, while the other searched the
plantations; the afternoon was used to cover the most productive areas again. I took the
morning seawatching shift on 1 June. At 06.30 hrs, I located a dark bird flying north whose
identity was a mystery. As it drew nearer I realized it was a storm-petrel; when it was 100
metres offshore, it circled several times in dipping feeding flight, before continuing toward
Aqaba. My observation totalled seven minutes, including four minutes of excellent views.
58 Hadoram Shirihai
een + ee
1 y r T T =
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
Convinced that it was a Wilson’s Storm-petrel, I raced off to find Oz. By 07.10 hrs, we were at
the beach. Eighty minutes later, | was amazed to notice three Sooty Gull L. hemprichii flying
inland: the first Israeli record. I returned to the kibbutz, leaving Oz to try and relocate the
storm-petrel; his patience paid off, and he enjoyed superb views of the bird for three minutes.
The series of notable seabird discoveries was not finished: on 2 June, we found a breeding-
plumaged Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius at North Beach and, the next day, I found the
first South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki in the Western Palearctic, which stayed for three
days.
Distinguishing characters: at close quarters it was impossible to miss the U-shaped white
rump patch, which extended to the vent-sides. The upperwing-coverts were tinged paler to a
varying degree: the greater-coverts, especially, appeared greyish or even whitish at some
angles, forming an ill-defined diagonal panel on the middle of the upperwing, while the
remaining secondary coverts were tinged brown-buff. From both above and below, the body
appeared browner than the relatively black head. The underwing remiges and primary-
coverts were dark, with an ill-defined whitish panel on the greater-coverts and base of the
remiges. In flight, appeared medium-sized—between Leach’s and European Storm-petrels
Hydrobates pelagicus. Rather short, rounded and stiffly-held wings appeared scarcely angled at
the carpal joint, and the trailing edge was almost straight. The tail was short and almost
square- shaped, with the feet projecting beyond its tip; no yellow webbing was visible. The
bird flew in a direct manner, making shorter glides than Leach’s, but it was slower and less
fluttering than European.
Commentary: Wilson’s Storm-petrel is frequent in the Indian Ocean. The paucity of records
from the Gulf of Aqaba is perhaps due to the species’ nocturnal habits and tendency to remain
well offshore.
| EUROPEAN STORM-PETREL Hydrobates pelagicus central-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
j
First Israeli record: one on 27 September 1982, Ma’agan Mikhael. Found with D. Parkin (Ben
Dov & Golan 1983, Shirihai 1984).
Subsequent Israeli records: one on 27 January 1984, two on 14 December 1984, and one on 1
January 1992 at Jaffa Port (E. Dovrat, Y. Baser, R. Mizrachi and D. Tzfrir in Shirihai 1996); two
on 2 November 1986, Carmel Coast (L. Gan in Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: rare visitor eastern Mediterranean in non-breeding season; recorded
Lebanon in April 1997 (Birding World 11: 21). Vagrant Turkey and Syria; nearest breeding is in
Greece (Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: David Parkin and I were patrolling the beach between Tel Taninim and Dove
Island. At 17.15 hrs, we spotted a storm-petrel c. 50 metres away and instantly identified it as
European. It is difficult to ascertain the connection between this bird and the host of others
seen that day, which included Saker Falcon Falco cherrug (one of the earliest records in Israel),
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva (another rarity), six Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica
_ (an unusually large number) and a very early Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus. Perhaps the
~ only explanation is that we had a good day’s birding?
Hadoram Shirihai 59
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Plate 10. Adult Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus, Eilat, 23 July 1983. (M. Meir).
60
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Plates 11 & 12. Hume’s Short-toed Lark Calandrella acutirostris, Eilat, February 1986. The first Israel and Western Palearctic record.
(Hadoram Shirihai)
|
Hadoram Shirihai 61
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
Distinguishing characters: the very small size and continuous flapping flight gave it an
almost bat-like appearance. The tail was very short and square-ended, but even so, there was
no sign of projecting legs; the wings were rather rounded, with the angle created at the carpals
barely discernible. The plumage was predominantly black, with virtually uniform upperwing-
coverts; the small and squared-off white rump patch was almost always visible. We did not
see it well enough to check for European Storm-petrel’s large whitish bar on the centre of the
underwing.
Commentary: Shirihai (1984) reflects on the puzzling fact that this species is much rarer than
Leach’s Storm-petrel along Israel’s Mediterranean coastline, despite breeding in the
Mediterranean.
MADEIRAN STORM-PETREL Oceanodroma castro Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
First Israeli record: one on 6 July 1983, Eilat (HS; Ben Dov & Golan 1983, Shirihai 1984).
Other regional records: no other recent records from eastern Mediterranean or Red Sea,
although breeds as near as central-eastern Atlantic.
Background: on 6 July, sometime after 05.30 hrs, I heard a strange, wader-like call coming
from above and behind me, but couldn’t locate any likely source. Instead, I saw a distant dark
bird heading south, gradually losing height as it neared the beach. I could now see it was a
storm-petrel and, as it made several wide loops over the sea and commenced feeding, it
_ showed characters diagnostic of Madeiran. It stayed for only a few minutes before continuing
south, and was not seen again. Why this vagrant seabird should be flying from the desert
toward the bay is a mystery. One explanation is that the bird had tried to head inland from the
Gulf of Aqaba, before returning to the coast; behaviour which has been recorded for Sooty
Shearwater at Eilat (Shirihai 1996).
Distinguishing characters: in size, structure and flight, generally resembled Leach’s Storm-
petrel, although certain characters approached Wilson’s Storm-petrel. Its wings were notably
long and were always held bowed at the carpals, as in Leach’s; however, the wing-bases were
broader and wingtips more rounded than in Leach’s. The tail-length was intermediate
between Leach’s and Wilson’s, and no foot projection was detected; the relatively shallow
forking often regarded as diagnostic of Madeiran was practically indiscernible and therefore
could not be evaluated. The bird’s flight was as buoyant as in Leach’s, albeit less erratic, and
lacked the strong wingbeats typical of European Storm-petrel. The most striking plumage
feature was a noticeably curved, almost horseshoe-shaped, white rump/uppertail-coverts
patch, which was narrower than in Wilson’s and barely reached as far as the vent-sides. In the
rear of this area were two, sharply defined, dark crescentic markings, one on each side. The
head was clearly blacker /darker than the rest of its sooty brown plumage, with the lesser- and
median-coverts, and mantle appearing fractionally paler. The palest area of the upperwing
was an ill-defined greyish brown bar on the greater-coverts, not as marked as in Leach’s, but
which nevertheless contrasted with the blackish remiges and primary coverts. The underwing
seemed unpatterned and dark, the bare parts blackish.
62 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Identification tips: following study of photographs and specimens, I found the small blackish
crescents on the rear of Madeiran’s white rump patch to be rather consistent; they should be
visible if the species is seen well at close range (Harrison 1983).
Commentary: the most logical explanation for the occurrence of Madeiran Storm-petrel in
Eilat is that, having left its Atlantic breeding grounds, the bird reached the Indian Ocean and,
ultimately, the Red Sea via the Cape of Good Hope. Madeiran Storm-petrel is highly pelagic
when not breeding (Enticott & Tipling 1997), but has occurred at a number of unusual
locations, e.g. on an inland lake in Finland (Birding World 6: 65-66).
Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma
castro. Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
BLACK HERON Eeretta ardesiaca central and southern Africa
First Israeli record: one on 19-20 October 1982, Eilat (HS sole observer).
Other regional records: one on Cape Verde Islands in February-March 1985 is only other
Western Palearctic record (Snow & Perrins 1998); one at Aden Marshes, south Yemen, on 30
March—26 April 1996 (Sandgrouse 18 (2): 76-77), is second Middle Eastern record.
Background: during two unforgettable days at Kibbutz Eilot, I found the first Black Heron for
the Western Palearctic and a mouthwatering supporting cast of 118 species. The heron
frequented a flooded field of, herbs and corn, and was sometimes joined by two Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis. When alone, it usually fed by holding its wings in front of itself to shade the
ground like an open umbrella; at other times, the bird was possibly influenced by the
accompanying Cattle Egrets, as it kept its wings closed and picked insects from the ground.
As if to remind me that I was in the Western Palearctic and not Africa, I also saw several
Palearctic specialities and birds very rare in Eilat. On the morning of 19 October, I logged a
Red Kite Milvus milvus (one of the few Eilat records), White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla,
_ three Siberian Stonechats Saxicola torquata (maura and variegata); and the saltpans held late
_ Broad-billed Limicola falcinellus and Terek Sandpipers Xenus cinereus, and Red-necked
Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
| Hadoram Shirihai 63
1999
Sandgrouse 21 (1)
Boon)
J. R
November 1992. (Leo
3
ilat
E
b]
kylark Alauda gulgula
. Small S
Plate 13
ludicola
lat, 6 May 1986
iparia pa
R,
In
-throated Sand Mart
Brown
Plate 15
rla, El
ripa
rihal).
i
R
In
Hadoram Sh
(
and Sand Mart
ht
rig
(
)
t Israel record.
is
irs
chinens
The fi
arvensis
(hal).
ta]
Hadoram Shi
(
Small Skylark Alauda gulgula and Skylark A
November 1985
’
Plate 14
Eilat
Hadoram Shirihati
64
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus. On 20 October, when the Black Heron showed all day, I saw five
Lesser Crested Sterna bengalensis and White-cheeked Terns S. repressa off North Beach, Israel’s
third Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni in the date palms, ten Richard’s Pipits A. richardi in
the kibbutz fields and 30 Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus in the flooded fields. It is
now inconceivable at Eilat that birds of this quality could be enjoyed by a single observer, as
happened in 1982.
Distinguishing characters: rather small—perhaps slightly larger than Cattle Egret—with
predominantly jet black plumage, especially on the upperparts, head-sides and tail, but
sometimes appearing sooty brownish black, notably on the body and throat, and from certain
angles, the crown and shaggy neck and mantle feathers appeared slaty or greyish black.
Blackish legs accentuated the bright yellow feet.
Commentary: other Afrotropical vagrants recorded in Israel’s Rift Valley include Pink-backed
Pelican Pelecanus rufescens, Marabou Leptoptilos crumeniferus and Yellow-billed Storks Mycteria
ibis, and Cape Teal Anas capensis (Shirihai 1996).
“Tobe he Lee te hoo mitt e tan kDa pe &
\ , !
| BLACK-HEADED HERON Ardea melanocephala central and southern Africa
First Israeli record: immature from 19 October—15 December 1987, Eilat. Found with B. Laird;
photographed; observed by many birders.
| Other regional records: very few Western Palearctic records, but several others in Middle East
E e.g. Yemen and Oman (Porter et al. 1996, Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: after closing the ringing station, Bill Laird, several volunteers and I counted the
| waders on Eilat’s salt pans, as was usual. Soon I spotted a darker heron among some Grey
| Heron Ardea cinerea on the southernmost pond; the latter flew as we drove closer, leaving the
| Black-headed Heron to give excellent views. For most of its stay, the bird frequented the
| Jordanian side of the border, making occasional forays to the salt pans, but was present for
| long enough to allow many birders to see it.
|
Distinguishing characters: intermediate in size between Grey and Purple Herons Ardea
purpurea, but with a proportionately thicker, longer neck and shorter legs; the bill was
relatively short-looking, due largely to its broad base. Separated from the superficially similar
young Grey Herons by the following: clearly darker and duskier grey above—especially
| toward the rear, since the tail, tertials and outermost greater-coverts were blackish; crown
. dark grey; nape and hindneck tnid-grey and clearly separated from the whitish throat and
| foreneck; and the mid-foreneck showed some orange-brown as far as the breast, with the
| Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala.
| Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
; Hadoram Shirihai 65
a
ta
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
remainder of the underparts whitish, cream or pale grey. In flight, the creamy white
underwing-coverts and blackish grey remiges were obvious, creating a two-toned impression.
The legs appeared black when distant but very dark brownish or greenish grey at close
quarters.
Identification tips: in East Africa, I have found that perched young Black-headed Herons are
best located among similar-aged Grey Herons by searching for birds with a striking
‘grassland-heron’ profile, blackish legs and strongly contrasting pale underparts/dark
upperparts.
Commentary: Eilat’s location at the mouth of Israel’s Rift Valley makes the species’ occurrence
there unsurprising (see Shirihai 1996).
CRESTED HONEY BUZZARD Pernis ptilorhynchus eastern Asia
First Israeli record: adult male on 14 May 1994, Eilat. Photographed by HS (Shirihai 1994a).
Subsequent Israeli records: adult male on 13 May 1995, Kibbutz Lotan (J. P. Smith pers.
comm.); one on 10 November 1996, Nizzana (HS pers. obs.); one on 1 May 1997, Qetura (B.
Granit pers. comm.). 3
Other regional records: other Western Palearctic records are one photographed at Borgka,
north-east Turkey, on 27 September 1979 (Laine 1996), an adult male in the same place on 25
September 1997 (Sandgrouse 19: 157) and one near Quseir, Egypt, on 9 May 1996 (Baha el Din
& Baha el Din 1997). Approximately ten Arabian records since December 1992.
Background: two years following the publication of Shirihai & Christie (1992), which included
a series of Honey Buzzard photographs taken at Eilat, Dick Forsman contacted me to ask if I
could lend him some of these photos for a paper on the identification of Crested Honey
Buzzard (Forsman 1994). Dick wondered aloud whether a vagrant Crested Honey Buzzard
might one day occur in Israel, as he had seen 135 in Kazakhstan the previous autumn. I
listened with interest, and took note of his suggestion that size and shape were probably the
best characters for separating the two species. Between 28 April—21 May 1994, I spent many
hours photographing the Honey Buzzard migration from a precarious clifftop hide on Mount
Yoash, Eilat. My hide was a brown poncho-like affair with a hood and drawstring at the neck;
by crouching with only my camouflaged camera exposed, I made a remarkably good
impression of a rock: Honey Buzzards would often come too close for my camera to focus. On
14 May, I saw what was surely a Crested Honey Buzzard through my Nikon’s viewfinder: the
mad scramble that ensued will be forever etched in my memory. Having taken a single shot, I
- began edging toward my binoculars and telescope. This was not as easy as it may sound, as I
was wearing an outfit which severely restricted my ease of movement—and I did not want to
take my eye off the bird. Suddenly it changed course and glided towards me: I had no time to
lose. Back in my original position, I rapidly managed to take eight photographs before it
vanished in a flock of 500 Honey Buzzards.
Distinguishing characters (description based partially on photographs): relatively easy to
distinguish from the Honey Buzzards with which it was associating, due to its larger and
generally heavier looking body, broader based wings and shorter, slightly broader tail (which
was shorter than the ‘arm’-base; in Honey Buzzard, the tail and ‘arm’-base are of approxi-
mately equal length). The trailing edges to the wings were virtually straight and the carpal
joints unpronounced, making the wings almost parallel-edged. The head and neck were dark
and sufficiently well defined to give the bird a distinctly hooded appearance, an impression
heightened by the blackish necklace. The wingtips were much more rounded than in Honey,
with a protruding sixth primary. From below, the virtual lack of dark carpal patches, the
reduced black on the primary tips and the three rather evenly spaced broad bars on the
remiges identified it as an adult male. The underparts were pale sandy buff (whiter between
the bars on the remiges and slightly browner on the body); the undertail pattern was
extremely distinctive: a broad white band separated blackish basal and terminal bands.
Identification tips: several of the criteria for separating Crested Honey Buzzard and Honey
Buzzard—especially the extent and distribution of remige barring—are age-related (see
66 Hadoram Shirihai :
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Forsman (1994) and Forsman & Shirihai (1997)).
Commentary: this record provides a classic example of the need for familiarity with common
confusion species when faced with a potential vagrant. My in-depth knowledge of Honey
Buzzard immediately alerted me to this different bird. Moreover, just two months earlier, I
had been alerted to the possibility—however unlikely it may have seemed at the time—of
Crested Honey Buzzard vagrancy. The recent spate of Middle Eastern record was seemingly
stimulated by the Eilat occurrence and the publication of Forsman (1994), which threw much-
needed light on the identification and migration of the two honey buzzard species. As inferred
in Shirihai (1994a), the Eilat bird was probably following major northbound flyway of Honey
Buzzard, having migrated south into East Africa with the latter species the previous autumn.
It is interesting to speculate that the records from Mount Yoash, Eilat, in 1994 and Kibbutz
Lotan, Arava Valley, in 1995 relate to the same lost individual, as the latter was seen almost a
year to the day after the (identically plumaged) Eilat bird.
TAWNY EAGLE Aquila rapax Africa and southern Asia
First Israeli record: subadult belisarius on 1-2 November 1992, Urim, north-west Negev.
Found with A. Harris and B. Williams; photographed (Shirihai 1994b).
Subsequent Israeli records: two other records of belisarius from same locality: one on 22
November 1996 (F. Aldersons) and one on 21 December 1997 (Birding World 11: 24).
Other regional records: belisarius breeds in south-west Arabia and North Africa, occurring as
vagrant north of known breeding grounds e.g. Oman and in Sardinia and Spain (Porter et al.
1996, Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: while working on Shirihai et al. (1996a), Alan Harris and I made several trips to
the western Negev to study large falcons, ring-tailed harriers and Imperial Eagles Aquila
heliaca. On one such trip, with Barry Williams, we found a perched eagle whose identity was
baffling. We drove closer and obtained excellent views of the bird for at least an hour; finally
we identified it as Israel’s first Tawny Eagle.
Distinguishing characters: the following combination of characters enabled separation from
young Imperial Eagle and immature Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis of the pale form: much of
the plumage, including the coverts, was unstreaked pale tawny (with contrasting blackish
remiges and rectrices); the creamy white uppertail-coverts extended well onto the back; there
was a contrasting sandy wedge on the inner primaries, visible mainly from below; and the
gape line was very short, barely reaching level with the eye. It also appeared smaller, even
‘puny’ compared to Imperial and Steppe Eagle.
Identification tips: Tawny Eagle is one of the most variable of eagles, although birds of the
only race found in the region, belisarius are predominantly tawny buffish, or rarely pale foxy
rufous. Age-related plumage variation in Tawny Eagle is discussed at length in Shirihai et al.
(1996a).
Commentary: as this species breeds further north in Arabia than in Africa, it seems probable
that vagrants to Israel originate from the former region; the same is probably true of Bateleur
Terathopius ecaudatus and Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates (see Shirihai 1996).
_ LESSER SAND PLOVER Charadrius mongolus eastern Asia
First Israeli record: one on 23 April 1983, Eilat. Also seen by O. Horin and others;
_ photographed by M. Meir.
_ Subsequent Israeli records: one from 14-16 April 1998, Eilat (J. P. Smith and B. Granit).
Other regional records: regular in winter and on passage coastal Arabia, southern Red Sea
and East Africa (Cramp & Simmons 1983), but vagrant rest of Middle East (Porter et al. 1996).
Background: daily counts of waders on Eilat’s salt pans were conducted in spring 1983. In
mid-morning on 23 April, I found a sand plover showing the features diagnostic of Lesser.
The bird stayed all day, allowing several birders to see it.
| Hadoram Shirihat 67
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
Distinguishing characters: the bird was in mainly winter plumage, with some fresh breeding
feathers on the head and body—as would be expected in Lesser (see Identification tips).
Conclusive identification was made through an examination of its structure: smaller and more
delicately built than Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultit, being nearer Ringed Plover
C. hiaticula in size. In particular, the head was smaller and more rounded than in Greater, with
a somewhat higher forehead, and the bill was clearly shorter (about equal to, or slightly
shorter than, the distance between the bill-base and the rear edge of the eye). The bill
appeared blunter tipped, partly due to the short, poorly developed nail and gonys. The bird’s
generally rounded body contributed to a most ‘unbalanced’ appearance, with the impression
of more body weight in front of the legs than behind; the legs (especially the tibia) were also
markedly shorter than in Greater. From a distance, the legs appeared black, but close views
revealed them to be slate-grey. In flight, the legs did not project beyond the tail-tip (unlike in
Greater) and there was a white wingbar, which was relatively long and narrow compared to
Greater, extending nearer to the body on the secondaries.
Identification tips: the state of moult can play an important part in sand plover identification:
unlike in Lesser, most populations of Greater attain breeding plumage by February—March.
The identification of this complex is discussed at length in a forthcoming paper (Hirschfeld et
al. in press).
Commentary: there are only two accepted records of Lesser Sand Plover in Israel, a reflection
of this species’ rarity in the Levant. The many other records claimed from the region are
probably misidentified Greater Sand Plovers of the smaller billed race columbinus (see Shirihai
1996).
LONG-TOED STINT Calidris subminuta eastern Siberia
First Israeli record: one on 25-26 August 1991, Eilat. Ringed with D. Yekutiel; photographed
in the hand.
Other regional records: few other Western Palearctic records (Snow & Perrins 1998); very
small numbers recently discovered overwintering UAE, Oman and East Africa (van Perlo
1995, Porter et al. 1996, Zimmerman et al. 1996).
Background: in autumn 1991, much time and effort was devoted to a thorough survey of
wader passage at Eilat. On 25 August, David Yekutiel was checking the traps while I counted
the waders, when we met at a trap containing a strange-looking stint. I suggested that we
empty the trap immediately: it didn’t take us long to identify the mystery stint as Israel’s first
Long-toed. The bird was ringed, measured and photographed.
Distinguishing features: relatively easy to identify, principally because it was a juvenile and
examined in the hand. Both in the hand and in the field, its shape was clearly unlike Little
Stint Calidris minuta; the proportionately long legs and neck, elongated body and smallish
68 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
head gave the impression of a miniature Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola. The legs were light
yellowish green, with an elongated middle toe, and projected beyond the tail in flight. The bill
was slightly decurved, with a distinct pale base. Primary projection was barely noticeable.
Compared to other Calidris species, the bird had a strikingly dark rusty crown, bordered by a
whitish split supercilium. Black feather-centres reaching the feather-tips admixed with buffy
rufous fringes (most obvious on the scapulars and inner median-coverts), gave the upperparts
a striped pattern; other conspicuous plumage features included long, whitish V-shaped
markings on the mantle and rufous-tinged tertials. The centre of the breast was almost
unmarked.
Commentary: the identification of small calidrids has been well treated in the recent literature
(e.g. Jonsson & Grant 1984, Alstrém & Olsson 1989, Chandler 1989, Doherty 1991, Shirihai et al.
1996a). Nevertheless, the difficulty of finding vagrant Asiatic stints among the vast numbers of
Little Stints that pass through Israel presumably explains the lack of subsequent records in the
country. Additionally, there are relatively few observers in Israel in the hot months of May,
August and September, when the stint passage peaks.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER Calidris melanotos . northern North America and Siberia
First Israeli record: one from 15-26 May 1983, Eilat. Seen by many other birders, including E.
Dovrat, O. Horin and R. Mizrachi; photographed.
Subsequent Israeli records: one on 29-30 April 1994, Eilat (P. Alstrém, U. Olsson, FiS,-L.
Svensson et al.; figure e, plate 10, Shirihai 1996). Two autumn records: one at Eilat on 30
August 1984 (HS) and one at Beer Sheva on 13 September 1986 (E. Ben-Zohar and E. Shohat).
Other regional records: small numbers annual western Europe (Alstrém ef al. 1991), but
remains very rare or vagrant Middle East e.g. Israel and Egypt (Porter et al. 1996). Regular
winter visitor East Africa in very small numbers (van Perlo 1995, Zimmerman et al. 1996).
Background: whilst counting some Broad-billed Sandpipers on Eilat’s salt pans at c. 12.00 hrs
on 15 May 1983, I discovered a Pectoral Sandpiper in their midst. I finished counting the
Broad-billeds and then returned to watch Israel’s first Pectoral Sandpiper—it was as if I
couldn’t believe the evidence of my eyes and had to do something else before my brain came
to terms with finding a North American wader at Eilat. We know better now, of course; the
bird was clearly on its way to its Siberian breeding grounds and not a transatlantic vagrant.
Incidentally, this bird still holds the record of being the rarity most twitched by Israeli birders
(over 40 came to see it).
Distinguishing characters: although clearly a medium-sized Calidris species, the bird was in
some ways reminiscent of both Wood Sandpiper and Ruff Philomachus pugnax, but with a
rather longer attenuated body and relatively short legs. It had a prominent breast band,
consisting of a buffish tinge to the chest overlaid by neat buff-brown streaks and some
mottling, which was sharply demarcated from the pure white belly. There was an untidy
scalloped pattern to the upperparts, created by the admixture of fresh and worn feathers, and
faint whitish V-shaped markings on the mantle. The legs were pale yellowish brown as was
the base of the slightly decurved bill.
Commentary: spring-plumaged Pectoral Sandpipers, like the first Eilat bird, are less familiar
to European birders than juveniles, which occur regularly in western Europe. Israel’s second
record involved a bird less advanced in its moult i.e. showing more winter plumage feathers
(see Shirihai 1996).
_ PINTAIL SNIPE Gallinago stenura Northern Asia
_ First Israeli record: one at Eilat on 1-10 November 1984 (not 1-7 November 1984, Shirihai
1996). Ringed (E. Dovrat, R. Mizrachi, R. Juliusburger and others); photographed in the hand.
Subsequent Israeli record: one (ringed) on 19-26 November 1998 at Kefar Ropin, Bet Shean
Valley (B. Granit and Y. Perelman).
Other regional records: breeds west as far as north-east Russia; Eilat record is only other
Western Palearctic occurrence (Snow & Perrins 1998). Recent records eastern Middle East, e.g.
FHadoram Shirihai 69
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Bahrain and UAE, probably involve passage migrants or winterers; may occur elsewhere
Arabian/Persian Gulf region (Porter et al. 1996). Near-annual East Africa (van Perlo 1995).
Background: | flushed an unfamiliar-looking snipe while checking mist-nets early on 1
November 1984, one of the most productive days that season. It struck me as being relatively
small, dark and round-winged, with an unfamiliar wing pattern. I watched it for several
minutes at ranges of c. 100 metres, before it flew again. There seemed a distinct possibility it
was Pintail, so I returned next day at dawn to try and trap it. As luck would have it, within the
space of an hour, I caught three Asiatic species: Pintail Snipe, Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus and Small Skylark.
Distinguishing characters: clearly smaller and dumpier than Common Snipe Gallinago
gallinago, with a shorter tail and somewhat browner plumage less saturated with rufous. The
upperwing had a pale panel (formed by exposed broad grey tips and dark subterminal bands
on the median-coverts) and a very narrow—almost invisible—pale trailing edge. The pale
fringes to the scapulars were of equal width or narrower than in Common, resulting in a more
scalloped pattern. The underwing-coverts were uniformly barred and dark, while the
underparts were more heavily and extensively marked than Common; overall this bird was
clearly darker than is typical of that species. The tail had 12 rectrices on each side, of which the
outermost seven were very narrow and pointed. In flight, the feet projected well beyond the
tail-tip, and it appeared to fly lower and slower than Common Snipe.
Identification tips: characters not mentioned above, but which may be detectable in the field,
include Pintail’s swollen supercilium compared to Common (giving a rather bare-faced
impression), the virtual lack of contrast between the supercilium and pale cheek bar, and
relatively short, blunt bill. In addition, Pintail’s eye-stripe narrows and sharpens in front of the
eye. Pintail Snipe is most easily confused with Swinhoe’s Snipe; their upper- and underwings
are nearly identical. Swinhoe’s is larger, bulkier and duskier, with wingtips contained by the
tail and feet barely projecting beyond the tail-tip in flight; it is also harder to flush. Essential
references on the identification of Palearctic snipe include Shirihai (1988) and Carey & Olsson
(1995).
Commentary: prior information on vagrants is vital if they are to be successfully identified. In
this instance, I was fortunate in that I had just been reading the only paper on Pintail Snipe
identification then available (Madge 1977), which gave me an essential grounding in the
species’ diagnostic characters. :
SWINHOE’S SNIPE Gallinago megala central and eastern Asia
First Israeli record: one from 28 February—4 March 1998, Hula Valley. Also seen by D. Alon.
Other regional records: old record from Caucasus now considered doubtful (Snow & Perrins
1998); Hula bird therefore sole accepted Western Palearctic record.
Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago
megala (left) and Pintail
Snipe G. stenura (right).
Impression of the first
record by James P. Smith.
As
a an aN
70 5 Hadoram Shirihai
q
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Background: in recent years, I have organised winter raptor censuses in the lowlands of
central and northern Israel. My main partners in the field are Dan Alon, Ehud Dovrat and
Barak Granit. Of course, I get to spend long hours in the field in what is perhaps the most
bird-rich part of Israel at that time of year. Heavy rains in winter 1997-1998 flooded a number
of grassy fields in the Hula Valley, creating marshy habitat attractive to wildfowl, waders and
raptors. I regularly checked the eagle traps placed in these fields as part of a radio-tagging
study, and discovered that one boggy area in particular held significant numbers of Common
Snipe. On the afternoon of 28 February, I became intrigued by one snipe’s unusual
appearance, and approached to within 15 metres of it in my jeep. During 15.30-17.20 hrs, I
enjoyed outstanding views and identifyied it as Swinhoe’s Snipe. It stayed until at least 4
March, when Dan Alon saw it very well at close range, but due to a technical problem with
my camera, no photographs were taken.
Distinguishing characters (co-authored by D. Alon): first impressions were of a snipe
obviously larger, bulkier, larger-headed and darker than Common Snipe feeding nearby. Its
jizz had overtones of Woodcock Scolopax rusticola. Appeared strikingly dark overall with less
buffy and rufous coloration than in Common; breast dusky and heavily mottled/streaked,
and body-sides thickly and extensively barred. The greater and lesser-coverts were solidly
dark, but the centres and tips of the median-coverts were noticeably pale, creating a pale panel
on the closed wing. The whitish lines on the mantle-scapulars were narrower than in
Common, enhancing the generally dark appearance of the upperparts; the scapulars had
relatively even, whitish fringes, forming a more scalloped pattern than in Common Snipe (but
reminiscent of Pintail Snipe, which see). Large white corners to the tail were exposed when the
bird was on the ground; primary-projection and tail-wingtip projection were both reasonably
obvious. The head was rather ‘square’, with the crown peaking further behind the eye than is
the case in Common; in addition, the eye itself appeared larger and set back. Its markings
were also different: the lateral crown-stripes were solid blackish, very bold (especially behind
the eye) and connected at the forehead, whilst the whitish median crown-stripe did not reach
the base of the bill, and the whitish supercilium was clearly broadest between the bill and eye,
tapering markedly towards the nape. The bill was shorter-looking and proportionately thicker
and broader-based than in Common. In flight, the bird looked large, heavy bodied and deep-
chested, and its feet projected just beyond the tail-tip. The upperparts and upperwing were
concolorously dark and brown-tinged (the mantle-scapular lines were indistinct), with the
exception of the pale wing panel; the pale trailing edge was reduced to a mere trace, invisible
on almost all occasions the bird was flushed. The underwing appeared uniformly dark-barred.
Commentary: the distribution and migration of Swinhoe’s Snipe are still poorly understood,
but the Hula Valley record was perhaps most likely an overwintering bird. Knowledge gained
through previous work with Common and Pintail Snipes was crucial to its discovery.
SOUTH POLAR SKUA Catharacta maccormicki Southern Oceans
First Israeli record: pale morph from 3-6 June 1983, Eilat. Also seen by O. Horin and several
European birders; description and sketches verified by P. Harrison.
Subsequent Israeli records: one same location on 28 June 1992 (J. Morgan and HS).
Other regional records: Eilat 1983 record is apparently first confirmed in Western Palearctic;
recorded off Egypt’s Red Sea coast 1990 and 1991 (Snow & Perrins 1998). Probably frequent
non-breeding summer visitor Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, perhaps also Red Sea (Harrison
1983, Porter et al. 1996, Shirihai 1996, Malling Olsen & Larsson 1997).
Background: see Wilson’s Storm-petrel.
Distinguishing characters: similar size to Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus, but much
heavier in build. It had the classic large skua shape of a bulky body combined with propor-
tionately short, triangular-shaped wings (created by the very long, broad arm and short,
abruptly tapering hand) and a full, short tail. A variety of additional features separated it from
Pomarine and other smaller skuas: the rather thick, short and mainly dark bill; the largely
mono-coloured, greyish buff-brown plumage; and the bold white patches on the bases of the
primaries of both wing surfaces. Separated from other large skuas by its relatively small size,
eeiavorain Shivihai 71
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
iim
Pe Or
South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
slightly less chunky (although still powerful-looking) body, proportionately smaller head and
stouter bill. The mid-toned greyish brown head had a dark eye patch, giving the impression of
an ill-defined mask, and the nape and upper mantle a very prominent broad, greyish sand
half-collar. The rest of the body was drab, cold buff, with narrow yellowish streaking and
mottling (visible only periodically at close range); the tail was marginally darker and the rump
perhaps paler. There was clear contrast between the solid black median- and lesser-
underwing-coverts (of both the primary- and secondary-coverts) and the distinctly lighter,
silvery grey-brown greater-underwing-coverts and remiges. The white under primary patches
were crescent-shaped and well defined and sometimes seemed to extend inward along the
greater-coverts. The upperwing’s white patches were always larger and more diffuse.
Compared to the smaller skuas, it flew slowly, albeit with considerable manoeuvrability and
effortlessness, only quickening its wingbeat when harrying other seabirds. In taking off and
gliding low over the water, its heavy flight action recalled a distant Greater Spotted Eagle
Aquila clanga.
Identification tips: South Polar is the only species of large skua likely to reach the Red Sea,
leaving Pomarine as the only confusion species. Note that non-adult Pomarines lack tail-
streamers and often have extensive white primary patches; some individuals can also be rather
large (see also Malling Olsen & Larsson 1997).
Commentary: despite the interest in South Polar Skua identification in recent years, its
occurrence in Western Palearctic waters of the Atlantic and Red Sea is poorly understood and
it is probably still overlooked (Shirihai 1996, Malling Olsen & Larsson 1997).
SOOTY GULL Larus hemprichii seas around Arabia and north-east Africa
First Israeli record: three adults on 1 June 1983, Eilat. Found with O. Horin (Shirihai 1996).
Subsequent Israeli records: three records (all Eilat) in 1989-1992, but all pre-1983 records now -
rejected (Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: breeds Red Sea north to mouth of Gulf of Suez; very rare southern
Sinai.
Background: see Wilson’s Storm-petrel.
Distinguishing characters: clearly larger, heavier, fuller-bodied and larger-headed than
White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus, with noticeably browner plumage. The upperparts and |
Ti. | Hadoram Shirihai $
4
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
head were predominantly suffused brown, rather than greyish and black, as in White-eyed.
The upper flanks and chest were dull brown and bordered above by a pale or whitish neck-
ring; there was also a white eye-ring, virtually restricted to above the eye. The bill had a
yellow base, black subterminal band and reddish tip, and appeared notably deeper than in
White-eyed. Identification was straightforward, due to the excellent views and the birds’ adult
plumage.
Identification tips: recently, Killian Mullarney and I have studied the identification and
ageing of Sooty and White-eyed Gulls in the two species’ northern Red Sea breeding grounds.
A character very useful for identifying Sooty in flight, especially in head-on views, is that, at
all ages it lacks White-eyed’s white leading edge to the wing. For full treatment of the
separation of Sooty and White-eyed Gulls, see Shirihai et al. (1996a).
Commentary: Sooty Gull’s rarity in the Gulf of Aqaba is surprising, as it breeds 250 km to the
south at the south-west entrance to the Gulf of Suez. However, the species is considerably less
numerous and more sedentary than White-eyed Gull, which breeds in the same area
(Goodman & Meininger 1989, HS pers. obs.).
SABINE’S GULL Larus sabini north-east Palearctic and north Nearctic
First Israeli record: first-summer from 3 July—2 August 1989, Eilat. Also seen by Y. Perelman
and others; photographed.
Subsequent Israeli records: one same location on 17 June 1992 (HS; Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: recorded UAE (Porter et al. 1996); claims from Egypt have been
rejected (Goodman & Meininger 1989). Vagrant Mediterranean (Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: in early July 1989, the Gulf of Aqaba was alive with seabirds, including Arctic,
Long-tailed and Pomarine Skuas, Lesser Crested and Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea, and Red-
necked Phalarope. Most were found as a result of the discovery of the Sabine’s Gull on 3 July.
I discussed with Ehud Dovrat the most likely scenario for the appearance of a Sabine’s Gull in
the Gulf of Aqaba. Instead of migrating north through the Atlantic to its north Holarctic
breeding grounds, it appeared the bird had moved east into the western Indian Ocean and
Red Sea. Its relatively late appearance at Eilat could be explained by the fact it was a first-
summer: non-breeding birds frequently remain at more southerly latitudes during the
summer (see Commentary). Ehud asked if I knew the date of the first Sabine’s Gull record in
Israel, I replied “January 1939”, referring to a skin preserved in Tel Aviv university museum.
He then said nonchalantly, “Go to the museum and expect a surprise.” I caught his drift:
Hadoram Shirihai 73
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla is a rare but regular winter visitor to Israel. I immediately telephoned
the museum’s curator and fired a series of questions at her while she checked the specimen,
before telling her that the label should read “Kittiwake”. A few days later I went to Tel Aviv to
confirm the reidentification.
Distinguishing characters: plumage worn and bleached, but with a striking three-part pattern
to the upperwing: the outer two-thirds of the primaries and their coverts were blackish brown,
the remaining coverts were greyish sand, and the inner primaries and secondaries were white.
The mantle and back were drab grey-sand with a few ash-grey (i.e. adult) feathers. A
prominent dark or blackish area covered the nape and rear crown; the rest of the plumage was
white. The tail was noticeably forked, with a dark, narrow subterminal band. The bare parts
appeared mainly dark or black.
Identification tips: I have not located any colour photographs of first-summer Sabine’s Gull
taken in June-July, or found comparable skins—despite searching the collections of several
national museums. The species’ first-summer plumage is often described as having pure grey
(i.e. adult-like) upperparts and upperwing-coverts, but this was not the case in either of the
Eilat individuals. It is possible that second-summer birds have been mistakenly aged as first-
summer; alternatively, the moult of Sabine’s Gull may be more variable than is thought.
Commentary: as both records involved first-summer individuals, they may provide evidence
that non-breeding birds disperse into the western Indian Ocean in summer.
Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
|
BROWN-HEADED GULL Larus brunnicephalus southern and central Asia
First Israeli record: first-summer on 12 May 1985, Eilat. Also observed by A. Jonsson and N.
Sebba.
Other regional records: no other Western Palearctic records (Snow & Perrins 1998). Vagrant
Iran, Oman and (probably) Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea (Bourne & Bundy 1990, Porter et al.
1996).
74 Hadoram Shirihati
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus.
Impression of the first record l
by James P. Smith. Y FS
Background: while searching the gulls on Eilat’s saltpans, I found a Brown-headed Gull
among Black-headed Larus ridibundus and Slender-billed Gulls L. genei. Excellent views were
obtained at rest and in flight, and I spent 40 minutes taking notes before leaving to spread the
word. Few other birders were present, but I found Anders Jonsson and Nina Sebba, with
whom I returned to view the gull for the rest of the day.
Distinguishing characters (based on Shirihai et al. (1987), with substantial additions from
original field notes; see Commentary): slightly bulkier, but notably larger, than Black-headed
Gull. In jizz, closer to Slender-billed, but with a heavier and less elongated body making it
appear proportionately shorter-legged than that species. Bill intermediate in length between
Black-headed and Slender-billed and deeper than in either, with a more prominent gonys-
contributing to the birds’ generally stouter-built impression. The bird was a first-summer, in a
clearly worn and bleached state. The head was white with a dusky patch on the rear ear-
coverts and some dark marking around the eye; the area between the eye and the ear-coverts
patch was faintly marked with grey, producing the vague effect of a down-curving mask. The
underparts were white. The upperparts and upperwing-coverts were mostly pale (bleached)
grey, similar in tone to the nearby Slender-billed Gulls and apparently slightly paler than the
upperparts tone of the accompanying Black-headeds. However, (as noted in the field
description but not in Shirihai et al. 1987) several fresh feathers on the scapulars, tertials and
innerwing-coverts were clearly darker, being mid-grey. The worn upperwing-coverts
possessed a faint brownish carpal bar extending onto the lower lesser- and median-coverts.
Almost all the upperwing remiges were solid blackish brown (with no paler inner primaries),
providing a marked contrast to the whitish, oval-shaped patch on the carpals; the carpal patch
covered most of the primary-coverts, as well as the bases of the inner and central primaries.
The underwing also had a contrasting pattern, as the secondaries were dark grey and the
primaries even darker; but the two-toned effect was less pronounced, due to the paler remiges
and whitish grey coverts. The tail had a thin blackish terminal bar. The bill was orange-red
basally, with a blackish tip extending c. one third of its total length. The legs were brownish
red, with darker ‘knees’. The eye, iris and orbital ring looked dark at long range, but the iris
appeared paler close to and in the sun—but never as pale as in Slender-billed (this fact was
omitted from Shirihai et al. 1987).
Identification tips: field experience in Asia and Africa has taught me that the immature and
non-breeding plumages of Brown-headed and Grey-headed Gulls Larus cirrocephalus can be
very similar. Although the two species are widely separated geographically, confusion is
clearly possible in areas of potential vagrancy. The best identification feature is the
underwing: distinctly bi-coloured in Brown-headed (with paler, whitish coverts) but
uniformly dusky grey in Grey-headed. Other characters, such as Grey-headed’s darker grey
upperparts, thinner bill, narrower tail-bar and more restricted white carpal patch, are more
variable than previously considered.
Commentary: a short note on this occurrence was published (Shirihai et al. 1987), based on a
translation of my detailed field description (in Hebrew). This process led to some very
important details being omitted, and was exacerbated by the accompanying illustration, which
conveyed a misleading impression of the bird’s head and bill shape, and prompted a serious
Hadoram Shirihai 75
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
questioning of the identification by Hoogendoorn (1991). Had the paper been a more accurate
representation of my field notes, I don’t think Hoogendoorn would have had so much reason
to question the identification. His analysis of the Eilat bird’s identification raises some
interesting points but does not—in my view—undermine the record, especially when the eye
colour and exact tone of the grey upperparts (not previously published) are considered. The
Eilat bird’s overall paleness was due to relatively heavy wear and bleaching, and the fact that
its pre-nuptial moult was not very advanced; recent observations have deomonstrated that the
first-summer plumage of Brown-headed Gull is frequently developed to only a limited degree
(Malling Olsen in litt. and pers. obs.; see van den Berg et al. (1991) on variability in pre-nuptial
moult). The narrowness of the black tail bar was within the recorded range for the species, and
probably at least partly due to extensive wear to the tail-tip. Apparently, the least-advanced
state of the Eilat bird’s moult could also explain why it had a relatively dark (pale brown) iris;
iris colour (although variable) in many gull species develops in accordance with moult
sequence. It should be stressed, however, that the iris appeared dark only at a distance; its true
colour was probably equivalent to that of a pale-eyed Armenian Gull L. armenicus (of which
some individuals have a dirty-looking, whitish brown iris). Hoogendoorn’s comments
provided a welcome opportunity to re-assess the record. A further benefit is that there are
now four references dealing with first-year Brown-headed Gulls and their variation.
Reassessment of the record and recent field experience of both Brown-headed and Grey-
headed Gulls, leaves me wholly confident that the Eilat bird was a Brown-headed Gull.
GREY-HEADED GULL Larus cirrocephalus sub-Saharan and southern Africa
First Israeli record: second-summer from 15 March-10 April 1989, Eilat. Found with the late P.
Grant and K. Mullarney, and seen by many birders; photographed.
Subsequent Israeli records: two same location in 1989: first-summer from 28 April-15 May
and second-winter from 4 August-19 September; both photographed (Shirihai 1992).
Other regional records: first Israeli record also seen in Aqaba, Jordan, on 30 March 1989
(Andrews 1995); no other Middle East records (Porter at al. 1996). Tiny breeding population
north Mauritania; vagrant North Africa and Spain (Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: few of the birders visiting Eilat in mid-March—mid-April 1989 can have missed
the long-staying Grey-headed Gull, one of two seen that spring. Remarkably, a third appeared
that summer. On 15 March, the late Peter Grant, Killian Mullarney and I took a tour group
seawatching at the beach. I spotted an interesting gull while scanning the bay and tracked the
bird briefly before identifying it as Grey-headed; I had studied the species in The Gambia just
four months previously.
Distinguishing characters: the ash-grey hood, trimmed at the rear with an ill defined dark
ring, is diagnostic of Grey-headed Gull. Its bare parts—except the white iris—were deep red.
The upperparts and upperwing-coverts were darkish grey, the underwing slightly darker; the
black on the wingtips was extensive and rounded; and a bold white panel covered the outer
primaries and primary-coverts. The prominent white mirrors in the outer primaries were
smaller than in a full adult, and the bird showed other traces of immaturity, in the form of
dark markings on some secondaries and tertials; it was otherwise largely pure white.
Identification tips: the surest way to pick out a first-winter, first-summer or non-breeding
adult Grey-headed from among a resting flock of Black-headeds is probably to look for
duskier grey upperparts. However, the species is more easily confused with Brown-headed
Gull. For a discussion of age-related plumage variation in Grey-headed Gull and full
descriptions of all three Eilat birds, see Shirihai (1992).
Commentary: the appearance of three Grey-headed Gulls at Eilat in the same spring-summer
may indicate fluctuations in the species’ abundance and distribution, perhaps as a result of
local or even global environmental changes. It would be fascinating to understand how
environmental change in East Africa’s Rift Valley can cause the northward displacement of
this and other species.
76 Hadoram Shirihai
b
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
ROSEATE TERN Sterna dougallii West Africa and western Europe
First Israeli record: first-winter from 4—20 November 1982, Eilat (HS in Ben Dov & Golan
(1983)). Also seen by O. Horin, R. Mizrachi and others.
Subsequent Israeli records: adult on 10 September 1987, Ma’agan Mikhael (G. Keijl et al.) and
first-summer on 26 August 1989, Shifdan (E. Dovrat et al.); see Shirihai (1996).
Other regional records: breeds Oman; vagrant Arabian coasts and Mediterranean (Porter et al.
1996, Shirihai 1996, Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: only two terns were at North Beach on the morning of 4 November 1982, yet
both proved to be exceptional: one was the first winter record of White-cheeked Tern Sterna
repressa at Eilat and the other was Israel’s first Roseate Tern, which was seen almost daily until
20 November.
Distinguishing characters: highly distinctive: larger, longer-legged, longer-billed and more
whitish-looking than Common Tern Sterna hirundo, approaching Sandwich Tern in jizz, both
in flight and at rest. The very pale, whitish grey upperparts were almost concolorous,
although the rump and uppertail appeared marginally whiter and a whiter panel was evident
on the mid-wing. Compared to Common, the upper ‘hand’ had a fainter and restricted black
area, confined to the outermost primaries (another Sandwich-like character), but the ‘hand’s
relative darkness could be enhanced by the mid-wing panel. The pale mid-wing drew
attention to a faint brownish bar along its leading edge, and there was a suggestion of a darker
secondary bar (much less developed than in Common). The underwing was even more
uniform, with darker outer primaries the only feature. At rest, the wingtips and tail-tip
appeared to meet. The long pointed bill gave the impression of being slightly decurved, due
entirely to the shape of the upper mandible—the lower mandible appeared straight. Both bill
and legs were black. In flight, it resembled Sandwich Tern, particularly the rapid, stiff
wingbeats of that species. It dived directly and from a height, moving some distance diving
again (Sandwich Tern forages similarly).
Commentary: Etchécopar & Htie (1967) and other authors state that the species breeds and is
regular in the Red Sea. In fact, as noted by Goodman & Meininger (1989), it is a vagrant only.
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii.
Impression of the first record ae
by James P. Smith. XX
ARCTIC TERN Sterna paradisaea north Holarctic
First Israeli record: first-summer on 2 July 1982, Eilat (HS in Ben Dov & Golan (1983)).
Subsequent Israeli records: all Eilat, e.g. 21 from 1983-1990, and chiefly May-—late August;
some photographed (Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: two first-summers photographed in mid-July 1996, Tawila Island
(Red Sea), Egypt (K. Mullarney and HS); vagrant to Cyprus, Turkey and Oman (Porter et al.
1996).
Background: despite strongly suspecting an Arctic Tern to be present at Eilat in summer 1981,
I didn’t make a definite sighting until July 1982, when a first-summer—arguably the species’
least known plumage—permitted prolonged study.
Hadoram Shirihai Vl
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Distinguishing characters: when perched among Common Terns, it appeared to have
distinctly short, blackish legs and a more rounded head. Its white forehead patch extended by
flecking to the mid-crown; the rest of the crown was black, but not as well defined as in
nearby Commons. The black bill was relatively short and pointed. The upperparts and
upperwing looked neat and silvery whitish grey, with fine white tips to the feathers, but the
leading edge of the secondaries was an indistinct dark grey-brown. The remiges were
strikingly translucent and bordered by the dark-edged outer primary and thin black primary-
tips; at rest, the dark-bordered primaries enhanced the white mid-wing area.
Identification tips: the first- and second-summer plumages of Arctic Tern are poorly
described in the literature. An Arctic Tern photographed at Eilat in 1983 (Plate 9) appears
intermediate between first- and second-summer, but is most probably the latter: note the still-
black bill, dark legs, white underparts and reduced white on the forehead. The plumage is
generally worn, and its wing pattern is more adult-like, especially the weakness of the bars on
the leading edge of the wing and secondaries.
Commentary: summer records from the Gulf of Aqaba and the recent July record in Egypt
suggest that young non-breeding Arctic Terns are very rare summer visitors to the northern
Red Sea.
BRIDLED TERN Sterna anaethetus mid-latitude oceans
First Israeli record: two (apparently first-summers) on 25 July 1980, Eilat (Shirihai 1982, HS in
Ben Dov & Golan (1983)).
Subsequent Israeli records: scarce summer visitor Gulf of Aqaba (Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: breeds Red Sea north to mouth Gulf of Suez, where strictly summer
visitor (Goodman & Meininger 1989); regular off southern Sinai (Shirihai 1996).
Background: in the old days, nobody considered birdwatching at Eilat in the height of
summer, so, when I was 18 years old, I persuaded my parents, Ehud Dovrat and SPNI to
sponsor a survey from 24 July—late November. I found two Bridled Terns on the second day
and a Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata on the fourth. Soon, three Sooty Terns were present, one of
which may have been the original bird. Of course, I telephoned Ehud with news of each
exciting discovery. He drove to Eilat, saw the birds and greatly encouraged me.
Distinguishing characters: although Common Tern-sized, they appeared larger at times, due
to their longer wings, elongated bodies and even more purposeful, elegant flight. In particular,
they were proportionately longer at the rear than Common and distinctly dark above and
white below. The dorsal area appeared almost black at distance but was greyish earth-brown
(especially on the mantle) at close range; the black crown contrasted little with the upperparts
but appeared almost separate due to white extensions to the neck-sides. A triangle of white on
the forehead reached just above and behind the eye; the black of the crown passed through the
eye as a straight loral stripe to the bill, making the white forehead seem like an angular
supercilium when seen side-on. The underwing was striking: white coverts and blackish grey
remiges, the latter exhibiting a paler/greyer basal and lateral primary area when close, i.e. the
dark remiges appeared less solid and extensive at times.
Identification tips: some first-summer Bridled Terns I have seen at Eilat appeared remarkably
like winter-plumaged birds, as their head pattern was ill-defined with an enlarged and/or
blotchy white forehead, a character only detectable given good views. A distant Bridled Tern
can look like a Long-tailed Skua at first; distant first-summer White-cheeked Tern can have a
superficially similar impression of a dark dorsal area and dark-and-light underwing.
Commentary: but for the dearth of observers at Eilat in mid-summer, Bridled Tern would
have been added to the Israeli List long before 1980 (Shirihai 1982). A clearer understanding of
the species’ status in the northern Red Sea has now emerged (see above). Most records are in
July-August, when small flocks are not uncommon; all are non-breeders and (apparently)
first-summers (Shirihai 1996). They usually appear along the Jordanian coastline, before
heading west from Aqaba to Eilat.
78 Hadoram Shirihat
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata (right two)
and Bridled Tern S. anaethetus (left).
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
SOOTY TERN Sterna fuscata tropics and subtropics
First Israeli record: adult on 27 July 1980, Eilat (Shirihai 1982, HS in Ben Dov & Golan (1983)).
Subsequent Israeli records: all Eilat: three adults from 31 July—2 August 1980 (E. Dovrat and
HS), three on 29 July 1981 (A. Balaban and R. Juliusburger) and 12 on 12 July 1988 (Y.
Perelman, HS et al.); see Shirihai (1996).
Other regional records: vagrant or very rare much of Red Sea and northern Persian Gulf;
probably scarce visitor south-west Arabia and southern Red Sea (Porter et al. 1996, Shirihai
1996).
Background: at c. 07.00 hrs, I saw a black-and-white tern off North Beach and realised it was a
Sooty Tern. This and other discoveries made the midsummer heat almost bearable.
Distinguishing characters: very similar to Bridled Tern, but a series of characters clinched its
identification. Slightly larger, but notably heavier, than Bridled (in build closer to Lesser
Crested or Sandwich Terns). Its flight was more powerful, with deep, almost skua-like beats of
longer, broader-based wings. The upperparts were uniform jet black, lacking any detectable
brown hue, nor was there any contrast between the head/outerwing and the rest of the
upperparts (which in good views are clearly black and slaty-brown in Bridled; this would not
have been diagnostic if the bird had been more distant, as Bridled looks concolorously dark at
long range and in certain lights). It had a black crown and white forehead: the latter was
squared-off and barely projected beyond the eye, and thus lacked the supercilium effect
typical of Bridled. Also unlike Bridled, the black loral line was broadest at the eye and tapered
sharply to the bill-base. The underparts were white, except dark remiges more solid and
extensive than in Bridled, thus the pale underpart coloration did not appear to reach the base
of the primaries.
Identification tips: tropical seas tend to be highly saline and green-blue in colour, making the
upperparts of Bridled Tern seem darker than in reality. It is therefore best to concentrate on
invariable field characters—size, structure, flight, the shape of the loral line, and the pattern on
the under primaries—when separating Bridled and Sooty Terns; see Malling Olsen & Larsson
(1995) and Shirihai et al. (1996a).
Commentary: my original sketches of the first Eilat bird depict the loral character diagnostic
of Sooty Tern, a character which only came to light in the mid-1990s.
~ Hadoram Shirihai 79
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
SAUNDERS’S TERN Sterna saundersi north-west Indian Ocean and seas around Arabia
First Israeli record: adult (probably third-summer or older) from 12-25 June 1988, Eilat.
Subsequent Israeli records: adult (probably second-summer or older) at same location on 25
June 1989; also seen by B. Laird and other European birders.
Other regional records: breeds Arabia; vagrant or very rare northern Red Sea (Goodman &
Meininger 1989, Porter et al. 1996).
Background: June-July 1988 was truly remarkable for terns at Eilat, with several Lesser
Crested and Caspian Sterna caspia, single Crested S. bergii and Arctic, dozens of Bridled, and
100s of Common and Little S. albifrons present daily. Variable numbers of White-cheeked and
all three Chlidonias were also seen. The shallow salt pans harboured roosting terns at night and
in the hottest part of the day. I checked the flocks every few days and, on 12 June, found an
adult Saunders’s Tern among a mixed group of Little and White-cheeked Terns. It proved
quite obliging, even displaying its wing pattern by stretching its wings before taking off.
Although it left the salt pans after an hour or so, it stayed at Eilat another 13 days.
Distinguishing characters: the upperparts were almost concolorously grey, appearing paler
and duller than the silvery upperparts of the nearby Little Terns. The even-toned upperwing,
mantle/scapulars, rump/uppertail-coverts and tail gave a smooth impression akin to White-
cheeked, although the streamers were clearly whiter than the rest of the tail. The white
forehead patch was squarer and neater than in Little: its upper border was near-straight and
higher up the head, meeting the black crown at eye-level. There was no supercilium, and the
black lores were broader than on Little (effectively reducing the white). When folded, the
wings showed a relatively broad black area on the outerwing, principally formed by three
solid black outer primaries; beyond the tertials almost seven primaries were fully exposed
(four grey inner primaries and three black outer primaries). In flight, this combination formed
a triangular-shaped black outerwing contrasting strongly with the rest of the wing. The white
underparts appeared dirtier than in Little, due to a pale greyish wash. A side-by-side
comparison demonstrated that its pale green-brown legs were darker and extremely short.
The bill was orangy yellow with an ill-defined dark tip—Little Terns have paler, purer yellow
bills. The lack of any vestiges of immaturity in the plumage, including the flight feathers,
suggest it was a third-summer or older (see below).
Identification tips: Malling Olsen & Larsson (1995) describe intermediate-looking birds
within Saunders’s breeding range and my own studies of second-summer Little Terns
oversummering at Eilat demonstrates that they can appear immature to a varying degree.
Least-advanced second-summer Littles often have three dark outer primaries (instead of the
; Saunders’ Tern
Sterna saundersi
nl _ t. (left two) and Little
ma Tern S. albifrons
u (right two).
: Impression of the
first record by
James P. Smith.
80 Hadoram Shirihat
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
_Hadoram Shirihai ro
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
two typical of adults) and can retain a whiter forehead and white-mottled forecrown, creating
a less contrasting black-and-white head pattern; their bare parts can also be little-advanced,
e.g. the legs may still be brownish. Some second-summer Little have a grey tinge to the centre
of the rump/uppertail-coverts, although this and the uppertail are still whiter than the rest of
the upperparts. Some second-summer Little can possess a range of Saunders’s-like characters
complicating the separation of the two species to the extent that most field characters are age-
related. Only full adults (i.e. mainly third-summers or older) displaying a typical combination
of diagnostic characters can be assigned to Saunders’s with any certainty. First-summers may
be indistinguishable: I see 100s of such birds at Eilat each summer—most of which must be
Little—all of which are show some grey on the centre of the rump/uppertail-coverts.
Commentary: the need for further study of Saunders’s Tern is more pressing than for any
other species of tern found in the region.
AFRICAN COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia roseogrisea Africa and southern Middle East
First Israeli record: one on 29 December 1979, Eilat.
Subsequent Israeli records: at least five at Eilat in 1981-1989, all in winter, including 2-3 in
1981-1982 and 1984-1985, and one in 1988-1989 seen by B. Laird and other European birders;
photographed. Most recent record is one on 19 October 1997, Eilat (HS).
Other regional records: breeds west and south Arabia, where On nee range; vagrant north
to Bahrain (Porter et al. 1996).
Background: | have seen this species at Eilat on several occasions since finding the first, coinci-
dentally on the same day that I watched the country’s first Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis.
The record went unconfirmed for nine years, due to a lack of suitable comparative reference
material. Bill Laird and I finally resolved the issue in 1988, through study of an identical-
looking bird at Eilat and comparison of photographs with skins at the Natural History
Museum, Tring.
Distinguishing characters: closely resembled Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto but, at the
same time, quite different in certain respects, being marginally smaller, more slender and with
a strikingly shorter tail. Close scrutiny revealed the plumage to be subtly different to that of
Collared. Its uniform head was paler, tinged pinker, and markedly different from the
upperparts and upperwing-coverts, which were sandy-brown and rather warm; the
upperwing-coverts were scaly-looking, with paler fringes. Collared’s upperparts appeared
relatively cold and uniform by comparison. A pinkish grey wash to the chest and flanks
contrasted with the paler, whitish grey tone of the rear-body and vent; such contrast is almost
lacking in Collared. When at rest, the black-and-white neck-ring appeared broader than in
Collared and of varying width, broadening on the neck-sides (Collared’s neck-ring is of equal
width throughout). The spread tail in flight presented a more contrasting pattern than is usual
in Collared: the feather-centres were darker, or blackish, and the fringes whiter. The legs were
reddish pink. Compared to Collared, the whitish eye-ring was more prominent and its deep
red iris brighter.
African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea (left)
and Collared Dove S. decaocto (right).
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
82
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Identification tips: African Collared Dove’s short tail is a result of the following: the distance
between the tail-tip and wingtips is equal to, or shorter than, the primary projection (the
reverse is true in Collared). It has also become apparent that African Collared Dove’s head is
more uniform than Collared’s, and lacks the paler forehead of that species. Some African
Collared Doves have a small dusky patch immediately in front of the eye. Confusion is also
possible with the so-called Barbary Dove, which is a frequent escape in the region. The
illustration of African Collared Dove in Snow & Perrins (1998) is very accurate.
Commentary: the delay involved in the confirmation of the first Eilat record demonstrates that
African Collared Dove identification urgently requires further research, in common with other
Streptopelia species in East Africa.
Rufous Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
RUFOUS TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia orientalis central and southern Asia
First Israeli record: juvenile meena on 4 September 1984, Eilat. Trapped and photographed in
the hand; also seen by several European birders.
Subsequent Israeli records: one meena on 3 November 1996, Hula Valley (D. Alon); one at
Kefar Ropin on 19 November 1998 (J. P. Smith, S. Lerman).
Other regional records: very scarce passage migrant eastern Middle East, e.g. Iran and Oman;
probably overlooked rest of Persian Gulf and Arabia; one record Egypt (Porter et al. 1996).
Background: whilst checking the ringing station’s mist-nets, a turtle dove which had been
feeding unobtrusively on the ground was flushed ‘into a net. Even before I extracted it from
the net, the bird struck me.as interesting, being apparently as dumpy as a pigeon and darker
than even the darkest Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur we had ringed. I was already
entertaining the possibility that I had caught a Rufous Turtle Dove.
Distinguishing characters: clearly larger and fuller-bodied than Turtle Dove, with an
unmistakably pigeon-like jizz. Generally duskier than Turtle on the upperparts and chest,
with a mixture of juvenile and fresh first-winter (i.e. adult-like) feathers; the wing-coverts,
scapulars and tertials possessed the large, rounded and well-defined dark (juvenile) and solid
black (adult) feather-centres diagnostic of Rufous Turtle Dove, with contrasting rufous and
buff fringes. The grey panel on the outerwing was much-reduced compared to Turtle. It had a
prominent slate-grey rump and uppertail-coverts, and was brownish from the mantle to the
nape. Unlike Turtle Doves of a similar age, its primaries and primary-coverts had pure black
centres; the primaries had sharply demarcated narrow rufous fringes and the primary-coverts
virtually no pale tips. The bare orbital ring was narrow and poorly developed, making the eye
appear smaller than in Turtle. Finally, its measurements included a wing-length of 204 mm
and a tail-length of 140 mm.
| Hadoram Shirihai 83
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
ES é 2 7 z pe ae eae as eS a
Plate 18. Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum, Eilat, 19 September 1985. The first Israel record. (Hadoram Shirihai)
Plate 19. Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis, Eilat, May 1993. (Hadoram Shirihai).
84 Hadoram Shirihat
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with
tips on identification
Bra Ayaan Me jAoealinealea
Plate 20. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata (probably rama), Eilat, September 1984. (Hadoram Shirihai).
Plate 21. First-winter Green Warbler Phylloscopus (trochiloides) nitidus, Eilat, 27 October 1987. The first Israel record. (Hadoram Shirihai).
Ag
Hadoram Shirihai
85
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Identification tips: the commonest race of Turtle Dove in Israel—urenicola—is also the closest
in plumage to meena Rufous Turtle Dove (Roselaar in Cramp 1985, Shirihai 1996). Fortunately,
the identification of Rufous Turtle Dove has now been covered very well by Hirschfeld (1992)
and Jannes (1995); additional information is presented in Shirihai et al. (1996a).
Commentary: Rufous Turtle Dove is one of the Asiatic species most likely to reach Israel. It is
almost certainly overlooked there and other Middle East countries.
ORIENTAL CUCKOO Cuculus saturatus Asia
First Israeli record: juvenile on 17 August 1985, Eilat. Trapped with M. Gellert and A.
Rothschild; photographed in the hand.
Other regional records: breeding range reaches western Russia, but the Eilat bird is the only
other Western Palearctic occurrence (Snow & Perrins 1998). No other Middle East records
(Porter et al. 1996).
Background: shortly after the autumn 1985 ringing season had started in earnest, I found a
small cuckoo in the Kibbutz Eilot fields. Intrigued, Avner Rothschild, Merav Gellert and I
strategically erected our mist-nets in an area of Suaeda bushes in the corner of an alfalfa field,
which the bird was frequenting. It was caught within 30 minutes.
Distinguishing characters: although the biometrics of Oriental Cuckoo suggest that the
species is not much smaller than’ Cuculus canorus, I had little difficulty detecting the size
difference in the field. I also noted the short tail, which resulted in a shorter wing/tail-tip
projection than normally found in canorus. In the hand, its wing-length was 189 mm and tail-
length 150 mm, excluding all populations of canorus (Cramp 1985). Its shorter wing relative to
canorus corresponded to the shorter distance between its innermost primary and wingtip (p8);
the difference in length between the longest primary and the remaining, shorter primaries
(Table 1) matched saturatus perfectly and had the effect of producing a more rounded wing. It
was a juvenile and the upperparts were in active moult; the new grey feathers were distinctly
darker than a normal canorus. Examination in the hand revealed the following characters,
some or all of which may prove to be diagnostic of Oriental Cuckoo: tail more weakly
patterned than in typical canorus of the same age, with narrower, neater and deeper V-shaped
dark bars and purer, lighter rufous interstices; black bars on the underparts were propor-
tionately broader than in canorus and shorter, broader, bolder and denser on the breast,
appearing as mottling in the pectoral region; pale interstices tinged light cream-yellow;
undertail-coverts richer ochre and almost plain, with sparse ‘dot’-like dark marks; fore and
\
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
a
86 Hadoram Shirihat
Table 1. Oriental Cuckoo at Eilat, 17 August 1985: distance between longest primary (p8) and remaining primaries (compared to
saturatus and cuculus; from Roselaar in Cramp, 1985). All measurements in mm.
inner longest
Eilat bird
saturatus 36-43 19-28 7-11 5-12 50-68
cuculus 38-52 23-32 8-12 - 4-10 53-69
outer (i.e. part of the lesser-, the outer median- and much of the primary-) underwing-coverts
very indistinctly barred or vermiculated dark and the greater primary-coverts were almost
plain grey, the strong, dark underwing barring being virtually confined to the axillaries and
inner coverts; fore underwing-coverts plain and tinged greyer than in canorus, providing a
more noticeable contrast with the broad white mid-wing bar (created by the well-exposed
white bases to the secondaries/primaries and the whiter greater-coverts); from below, the
relatively short outermost primary-tip was equal to the third (white) distal bar on the inner
web of p9 (apparently equal to the distal-most bar in most canorus); and the white on the
primary tips was much narrower than in canorus.
Commentary: Oriental Cuckoo was more difficult to identify on plumage alone than almost
any other species I have encountered. The Eilat bird could not have been assigned to saturatus
without being trapped.
Chestnut-headed Finch Lark Eremopterix signata (left) and Black-crowned Finch Lark E. nigriceps (typical plumage in centre and
atypical on right). Impression of the first record by James P. Smith.
CHESTNUT-HEADED FINCH LARK Eremopterix signata East Africa
First Israeli record: adult male on 1 May 1983, Eilat (HS sole observer).
Other regional records: no other records (Shirihai 1996, Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: In the early 1980s the north fields were outstanding for migrants and a main
focal point for the handful of ringers working in Eilat. On 1 May 1983, while scanning a partic-
ularly productive stubble field, a male Eremopterix lark landed no more than 10 metres away.
It took me wholly unawares being incredibly tame and obviously not belonging to one of the
various forms of Black-crowned Finch Lark E. nigriceps, yet I had no idea what else it could be.
The identification process took almost three years, despite the fact it was a highly distinctive
adult male. In January 1986, following a visit to the Natural History Museum, Tring and
through assembling relevant photographs taken in East Africa, I finally confirmed it as a
Chestnut-headed Finch Lark. Subsequently, I reviewed the record for The birds of Israel
(Shirihai 1996), by which time I had gained field experience of the species in Africa, as well as
of aberrant Black-crowned Finch Lark.
Distinguishing characters: pure white patches on the cheek, mid-crown, nape and body-sides,
enclosed by rich chestnut-brown, gave the bird a rather startling, even piebald appearance. The
chestnut reached from the underparts to the throat and chin, passing through the eye and the
rear of the ear-coverts to the crown. The upperparts were richly patterned browner (not
uniform greyish sand, as in Black-crowned), with dark brown centres and sandy brown fringes
to the mantle feathers and many scapulars; the upperwing feathers had darker, more solid
centres and well-defined cream fringes, creating pale wing bars and an obvious tertial fringe.
~ Hadoram Shirihai 87
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Plate 22. Adult Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus humei (right) and worn first-spring Yellow-browed Warbler P. inornatus,
Eilat, January 1990. (Hadoram Shirihai).
Plate 23. First-winter male Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola, Eilat, September 1984. (Hadoram Shirihai).
58 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Identification tips: the black-and-white head pattern of Black-crowned Finch Lark is rather
variable; e.g., the black areas are often brown-tinged (based on personal observations of E. 1.
melanauchen in the Arava Valley (see Photograph C, Plate 11, Shirihai 1996) and on research
undertaken in Ethiopia and at the Natural History Museum, Tring; see also Morgan & Palfery
1986). Black-crowned Finch Lark varies both individually and according to age; variation is
most evident in the first adult-like plumage (i.e. after the complete post-juvenile moult), but
some retain an atypical plumage during their first breeding season and may have a head
pattern superficially similar to Chestnut-headed, although they still have diagnostically
uniform upperparts.
Commentary: the Chestnut-headed Finch Lark seen at Eilat is apparently the sole record of the
species north of its African range: southern Sudan south to Somalia, Ethiopia and north and
east Kenya (Snow & Perrins 1998). The same appears to be true of the only other sub-Saharan
passerine recorded in Israel, Ethiopian Swallow Hirundo aethiopica (Shirihai 1996, Snow &
Perrins 1998).
HUME’S SHORT-TOED LARK Calandrella acutirostris southern Asia east of Afghanistan
First Israeli record: one from 4-14 February 1986, Eilat. Observed by many Israeli and
European birders; photographed and tape-recorded; trapped and photographed in the hand
on 14 February; retained as specimen (ref. no. X3853) at University Museum of Tel Aviv
(Shirihai & Alstrém 1990).
Other regional records: no other Western Palearctic records (Snow & Perrins 1998); vagrant
eastern Iran (Porter et al. 1996).
Background: in late morning of 4 February, following several days of low pressure and strong
easterly winds, I located a strange-looking Calandrella lark among up to ten Short-toed Lark C.
brachydactyla. Subtle differences in its plumage, bill-colour and vocalisations, were sufficiently
pronounced to eliminate the possibility of an aberrant Short-toed. I immediately informed the
the ringing station of the discovery. Although for the most part sceptical that the bird was
anything other than a Short-toed Lark, the volunteers helped erect mist-nets on 5 February in
the small field the bird was favouring. We failed to catch it, but gradually erected more nets
each day the lark eluded us. Finally, on 14 February, when c. 30 mist-nets and a single clap net
were in place, a dog flushed the larks into a net. Having caught the bird, I realised that the
effort had not been in vain, as it displayed several plumage characters and a wing formula
clearly different to those of any of the Short-toed Larks I had caught in the previous few days.
Arkia Airlines agreed to fly the bird to the University of Tel Aviv, which maintained a cage
containing other lark species, to permit further in-depth study, but the bird died a few days
after its arrival. Photographs and tape-recordings of the unidentified lark were circulated to
several experts on African and Eurasian larks, but no identification was reached. In 1987, I
took the skin to the Natural History Museum, Tring, where, together with Peter Colston, I
identified it as Hume’s Short-toed Lark.
Distinguishing characters: the most important feature was the near-patternless head, an effect
created by the virtually unstreaked crown and plain ear-coverts, and the almost complete
absence of the dark eye-stripe behind the eye typical of Short-toed Lark. However, it had a
more prominent dark loral patch than Short-toed, with a bolder white supercilium above and
behind the eye and very ill-defined in front of it (in Short-toed, the supercilium is equally clear
along its length); the eye-ring was pale and indistinct/incomplete (in Short-toed, the almost
invariably white eye-ring is both broad and complete). The bill was proportionately slightly
longer than in Short-toed Lark, more slender and more obviously bi-coloured, with a pale
yellowish orange base and a blackish culmen and tip (Short-toed’s bill is horn-pink basally,
becoming gradually darker on the culmen and tip). The rest of the upperparts were less
heavily streaked than in Short-toed, with a stronger greyish tinge than most migrant Short-
toed. It also lacked dark breast-side patches and had a virtually unstreaked breast (the reverse
is normal in Short-toed). Its wing structure included a distinctly long sixth primary which
projected almost to the wing-tip, giving a blunter shape to the wing (the sixth primary is much
shorter in Short-toed). Finally, the bird’s flight-call was a diagnostic sharp trree.
~ Hadoram Shirihai 89
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Identification tips: in addition to the characters already described, Hume’s Short-toed Lark is
markedly off-white below, with an often prominent buffish grey breast band; these two
features combine to create a more white-throated impression than in Short-toed Lark. The two
species may also be separated by their tail pattern when examined in the hand. For a full
treatment of their identification, see Shirihai & Alstr6m (1990).
Commentary: an Eastern Pied Wheatear Oenanthe picata was also found at Eilat on 4 February
1986. This species has a similar range to Hume’s Short-toed Lark, in the south-central Asian
mountains, and it seems likely that the occurrence of both species was related to the strong
east winds prevailing in the days prior to their discovery. Further work on Hume’s Short-toed
Lark, including a study of its ecological requirements vis-a-vis Short-toed Lark, is required.
SMALL SKYLARK Alauda gulgula Asia east of Caspian Sea and eastern Middle East
First Israeli record: one on 28 September 1984, Eilat (Shirihai 1986a).
Subsequent Israeli records: ten trapped and at least five others seen autumn—winter 1984,
Eilat (Shirihai 1986a); also photographed and tape-recorded (Shirihai 1986b). Now known to
be scarce winter visitor east and south Israel, chiefly October—March (Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: no recent Western Palearctic records outside Israel, Sinai and Kuwait
(Snow & Perrins 1998). Breeds east Iran; rare winter visitor Arabia (Porter et al. 1996).
Background: shortly after dawn, while mist-netting in the Kibbutz Eilot fields, I noticed a pair
of diminutive larks giving an unfamiliar monosyllabic call in flight. I saw the birds on several
occasions over the next 14 days, becoming more curious with each sighting. When one landed
near a mist-net on 14 October, I wasted no time in catching it. Its measurements eliminated
Skylark Alauda arvensis and suggested Small Skylark. We kept the lark for 24 hours to confirm
the identification and allow other ornithologists to see it. To general surprise, we trapped
another six Small Skylarks in late October—11 November, and three more in January—March; in
all, at least 16 birds were seen at Eilat that winter. With hindsight, I consider that my first
encounter with Small Skylark was at Eilat in October 1980. My notebook mentions an
aberrant, smaller sandier skylark, with a distinctive but unfamiliar flight-call. None of my
field guides described any plumage or species like it, and it was quickly forgotten about.
Distinguishing characters: the small, compact and short-winged appearance was always
striking and the hand examination revealed its wing-length to be just 91 mm. The primary
projection was sufficiently short to be practically invisible. The wing also looked noticeably
rounded, because the wing-tip was formed by the four longest, outermost primaries (rather
than three, as in Skylark). In flight, the wing had a plain trailing edge (broad white in Skylark).
Overall, the upperparts were paler and suffused buffish sand, except for a rather obvious
rufous wing panel; the underparts were tinged pale buff (white in Skylark), with finer, well
spaced streaking on the breast (quite unlike the relatively blotchy, densely marked breast of
Skylark). The outertail feathers were sand-tinged, rather than pure white. The principal calls
were a monosyllabic prrrt and baz, or biz, delivered with the staccato forcefulness of Richard’s
Pipit Anthus richardi; the buzzing call was usually given 1-3 times, with an interval of 1-2
seconds between each. For a more detailed description, see Shirihai (1986a).
Commentary: Small Skylark is a regular winter visitor to the eastern Israeli valleys, partic-
ularly the Arava; it probably also winters in the northern Negev (Shirihai 1996). The lack of
comparative reference material explains the lack of records from Eilat before the mid-1980s.
The species is a short-distance migrant, so its annual occurrence in Israel may be evidence that
it breeds further west than Iran. It is interesting to speculate that such breeding grounds, if —
they exist, may belong to an undescribed subspecies; birds ringed at Eilat demonstrate subtle
differences to the type-series (see Shirihai 1996).
BROWN-THROATED SAND MARTIN Riparia paludicola southern Asia and Africa
First Israeli record: one chinensis on 6 May 1986, Eilat. Trapped with A. Ganz, M. Gellert, R.
Mizrachi and A. Rothschild; photographed in the hand.
Subsequent Israeli records: one (race unspecified) on 8 April 1989, Yotvata, south Arava
Valley (R. Coles et al.).
90 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Other regional records: apparently vagrant Middle East, e.g. Egypt and Oman (Porter et al.
1996, Shirihai 1996); elsewhere in Western Palearctic, breeds Morocco (Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: c. 12,000 birds were ringed at Eilat in spring 1985, with ten volunteers manning
the ringing station on most days. The number of European ringers dwindled as temperatures
rose, leaving a hard core of Israelis, including Adi Ganz, Rami Mizrachi, Avner Rothschild
and Merav Gellert. On 6 May, we were almost swamped by a large influx of Sand Martins
Riparia riparia. The nets hadn’t been open long when one of the volunteers reported an
unusually small, dark bird. I knew it was Brown-throated Sand Martin upon removing it from
the bag. That afternoon, we discovered that our description matched chinensis, an eastern race
unrecorded in the Western Palearctic.
Distinguishing characters: tiny, with a wing-length of 91 mm. It lacked Sand Martin’s breast
band, having a dark throat; the combination of relatively short wings and paler grey-brown
upperparts and throat assigned it to chinensis. On release, it joined a group of feeding Sand
Martin and was lost to sight in less than 30 seconds.
Identification tips: the diagnostic characters of Brown-throated Sand Martin are probably
invisible among large flocks containing both species of sand martin. Brown-throated Sand
Martin is also likely to be confused with a recently described race of Sand Martin, R. r. eilata
(Shirihai & Colston 1992), common in Israel on migration: eilata is small and often arrives in
fresh plumage, when it possesses a blotchy brown chin and throat.
Commentary: experience of hirundines in Israel and Ethiopia leads me to conclude that it is
impossible to accurately identify many individuals in large flocks, especially when two or
more confusion species are involved and the birds are in rapid migration flight—as is normal
at Eilat.
BLYTH’S PIPIT Anthus godlewskii central and eastern Asia
First Israeli record: adult (or almost fully moulted first-winter) from 7-16 November 1987,
Eilat. Also seen by B. Laird, the late D. Parr and others.
Subsequent Israeli record: one on 24 September 1998, at Kefar Ruppin, Bet Shean Valley (B.
Granit); two wintering mid-January—21 February 1999 at least, at Ma’agan Mikhael (K.
Mullarney, B. Granit, J. P. Smith et al.).
Other regional records: few other Middle Pasteen records, most in UAE (Porter et al. 1996).
Vagrant north-west Europe (Alstrém et al. 1991, Snow & Perrins 1998).
Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
| Hadoram Shirihai 91
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Background: the Kibbutz Eilot fields were full of pipits and wagtails on 7 November 1987.
Crossing a field, I flushed a pipit that was neither Richard’s nor Tawny Anthus campestris yet
similar to both. My suspicions were aroused when it failed to call on taking off; I then watched
it for 15 minutes, before leaving to tell Don Parr, Bill Laird and others that I had found a
Blyth’s Pipit. We did not relocate it until 16 November, but studied it in great detail for several
hours on that date, allowing Bill to make a feather-by-feather colour sketch.
Distinguishing characters: appeared Tawny-sized when it landed after being flushed on the
first occasion, but its jizz was more like Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis and its plumage was
richer/bolder than Tawny and colder/greyer than Richard’s. I knew these species well and
checked for their diagnostic characters. I was surprised to see that the bird had distinctive
characters of its own, and these played an important part in the identification. I eliminated
Tawny on the basis of its Richard’s-like pale, barely marked loral area; narrow and short
malar stripe with bolder malar patch; browner upperparts and warmer breast heavily
streaked; narrower fringes to the tertials; and the underparts, especially the flanks, were
warmer buff. Richard’s was discounted as follows: relatively unmarked head, with a
supercilium that appeared faded in front of the eye and both shorter and narrower behind it;
relatively short bill, pointed and narrow-based; cooler greyish brown upperparts with fainter
streaking; underparts more uniformly tinged light buff; compact-looking body; and short legs
with a much shorter hind claw. The posture and flight-call—a short and slightly hard
chep—sounded closer to Tawny than Richard’s. Overall, the bird was a large pipit with a small
pipit ‘feel’. Having heard Per Alstrém’s lecture at the International Identification Meeting at
Eilat in November 1986, I was aware of the median-coverts character. I located one fully
exposed adult-like covert showing the diagnostic well-defined, square-cut centre (the centre
was not diffuse or triangular-shaped at the tip).
Commentary: this record is a classic example of how developments in identification can
trigger an increase in the frequency with which species are recorded.
BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT Anthus rubescens eastern Siberia and North America
First Israeli record: at least one (probably several) non-breeding japonicus on 4 November
1981, Eilat.
Subsequent Israeli records: small flocks japonicus winter 1981-1985, Eilat; other observers
(from autumn 1984) include P. Alstr6m and K. Mild. Now known as a rare to scarce winter
visitor Arava, Hula and Bet Shean Valleys, chiefly November—March (Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: Eilat occurrences apparently first confirmed Western Palearctic
records: japonicus vagrant rest of Middle East, e.g. UAE (Porter et al. 1996); nominate rubescens
vagrant western Europe (Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: with no reference material to assist me when I found a peculiar, dark-looking
pipit at Eilat on 4 November 1981, I assumed it was an eastern race of Water Pipit Anthus
spinoletta. The bird certainly looked close to Water Pipit’s Turkish and Caucasian subspecies,
coutellii, which winters in northern Israel, but it was darker, daintier and its legs were paler.
Several more dark ‘Water Pipits’ appeared that winter and in subsequent winters, but I got no
closer to identifying them. In November 1984, I ringed c. 30 of the mystery pipits, establishing
that they were consistently smaller and shorter-winged than A. s. coutellii, with darker-
streaked underparts and paler legs. I again identified them as unusual Water Pipits, assuming
they were of a small eastern subspecies. In September 1985, Per Alstr6m examined my
photographs and realised that they were the Asiatic race japonicus of Buff-bellied Pipit A. _
rubescens. Any remaining doubts were dispelled in November the same year, when Per andl _
ringed more of these birds at Eilat. At the same time, Krister Mild informed us that he had also
seen and identified several japonicus pipits in Israel in December 1984. Subsequently, in winter
1986, Peter Colston and I examined relevant material at the Natural History Museum, Tring, )
confirming the identification (Shirihai & Colston 1987).
Distinguishing characters (the following consists of knowledge gained through study of
identically plumaged birds at Eilat in 1981-1985): the identification process advanced on two
complementary fronts—assessment in the field and examination in the hand. First impressions
92 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
were that the birds appeared slimmer and smaller than Water Pipit, recalling Olive-backed
Pipit in their near-uniform but darker and browner upperparts, heavier-streaked chest,
relatively prone posture (slightly more upright in Water) and reddish brown legs (biack in
Water). Separation from Water Pipit was based on: malar stripe and patch very prominent,
well-developed and dark; white eye-ring conspicuous and complete, due to the almost
unmarked loral area (Water has a black loral stripe that breaks the eye-ring); upperparts
uniformly dark greyish olive-brown and virtually unstreaked; wingbars whiter and bolder
than in Water; and breast extensively spotted and streaked with dark, creating more blotchy
appearance than is typical of Water. The wings were markedly shorter than in Water: 34 birds
ringed in autumns 1984 and 1985 had wing-lengths of 80.5-89 mm (Shirihai & Colston 1987).
The flight-call was also diagnostic: a brief, high-pitched zzeep or tsitt, lacking the shrillness of
Water, but higher-pitched and sharper than in Meadow.
Commentary: until recently, it was thought that A. r. japonicus bred only in eastern Siberia,
north and east of Lake Baikal, and wintered in Japan, China and parts of south Asia (Shirihai
& Colston 1987). However, varying numbers have wintered in Israel annually since 1981,
suggesting it also breeds in central Asia and elsewhere in Siberia (Shirihai 1996).
Eastern Pied Wheatear Oenanthe picata (left two) and Mourning Wheatear O. /ugens of the dark morph in the Basalt desert of Jordan
(right two). Impression of the first record by James P. Smith.
EASTERN PIED WHEATEAR Oenanthe picata southern Asia
First Israeli record: opistholeuca morph (probably adult male) on 4 February 1986, Eilat.
Observed with M. Gellert and H. Heldbjerg.
Other regional records: no other Western Palearctic records (Snow & Perrins 1998): picata
morph breeds Iran and winters east Arabia; opistholeuca may occur east Iran (Porter et al. 1996).
Background: a volunteer ringer—Henning Heldbjerg—asked me at midday about a ‘black
wheatear’ he had seen near the saltpans. My mind was still concerned with the strange
Calandrella lark that I had found earlier (see Hume’s Short-toed Lark), and I was tempted to
dismiss the bird as a young White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga. We went to
find the bird anyway—which proved fortunate! The saltpans are not typical White-crowned
Black Wheatear habitat but we found a young bird in the area Henning had been watching.
While trying to establish if this was the same bird, we found a dark morph Eastern Pied
Wheatear, a very rare opportunity to compare the two species side-by-side.
Distinguishing characters: clearly smaller than White-crowned Black and I estimated it to be
marginally larger and heavier than Mourning Wheatear O. lugens. Its smaller size, broad T-
shaped tail band and more extensively black belly (reaching just beyond the thighs)
eliminated immature White-crowned Black. The possibility of it being a vagrant Black
Wheatear O. leucura was eliminated by its small size and relatively slender bill, and by a
number of minor plumage differences. The main problem was separating it from the dark
morph of Mourning, resident in the Basalt Desert, east Jordan (Andrews 1994, Tye 1994), but
Hadoram Shirihai 93
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
three differences were apparent: the rerniges appeared completely dark in flight, save for a
grey basal tinge on the underwing (Basalt Wheatear is extensively whitish or greyish on
nearly all the remiges of both wing surfaces); the bird was in fresh plumage and probably an
adult, yet there was no trace of the white-tipped upper primary-coverts normally visible on
adult Basalt Wheatear at this time of year; and the black on the belly was clearly demarcated
from the white rear belly (in Basalt Wheatear, the black usually extends further beyond the
legs and gradually merges into the white vent, although this character varies individually and
according to posture). The bird was appreciably stockier than Mourning and its habits were
reminiscent of Finsch’s Wheatear O. finschit: on landing, it bobbed up and down—bowing low
and then standing quite upright—while frequently cocking and flicking its tail.
Commentary: further work is urgently required on the black-plumaged wheatear group, ie.
Black, immature White-crowned Black and the dark morphs of Mourning and Eastern Pied.
For further information on the identification and occurrence of the two first-named species,
see Clement (1987).
PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella certhiola eastern Asia and southern Siberia
First Israeli record: one on 25 February 1983, Eilat. Also seen by Y. Baser, A. Ben Dov, A. Ber,
O. Horin and others.
Other regional records: no other Middle East records (Porter et al. 1996). Vagrant north-west
Europe (Alstr6m et al. 1991, Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: I found the bird in a lush alfalfa field. It was remarkably confiding for a
Locustella warbler, sometimes walking fully exposed across the ground. Having been treated
to excellent views, I fetched the other ringers and birders, including Oz Horin, Yaron Baser,
Alon Ber and Amir Ben Dov, none of whom was disappointed. Trapping the bird was a very
different matter: it flew into our hastily erected mist-nets twice, but freed itself each time due
to the strong winds.
Distinguishing characters: the prominent whitish supercilium and warm reddish or orange-
buff upperparts recalled Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. The crown and upper ear-
coverts were dark—the latter effectively forming an eye-stripe—and emphasised the whitish
supercilium; the dark-light-dark facial pattern even approached Moustached Warbler. There
was a faint suggestion of a malar stripe, and the extensively pale base to the lower mandible
OE Gy, ge
al pt ‘
sis :
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola. Impression of the first record by James P. Smith.
94 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
was pinkish orange. Solid black feather centres created bold streaks on the crown (narrow)
and mantle/scapulars (broad); the rust-coloured back/rump/fore uppertail-coverts were
unstreaked. The tertials were clearly fringed buff-brown, with small but highly distinctive
white spots on the tips of the inner web; pale fringes to the median- and greater-coverts
appeared as two narrow wingbars. The tail was tinged orange-brown and was dark, with
densely packed crossbars merging toward tip, giving the impression of a broad, dark (at the
third distal) subterminal band. All but the central tail feathers had whitish cream tips,
resulting in obvious white tail corners; the duskier tone to the undertail made this even more
noticeable from below. The juxtaposition of the paler (plain) back/rump area with the darker,
streaked head, mantle/scapulars and tail produced a marked contrast lacking in Grasshopper
Warbler Locustella naevia. The underparts were quite unlike Grasshopper: its breast and flanks
were washed warm buffish olive and there was faint streaking on the breast-sides; the
undertail-coverts had an indistinct scaly pattern. I suspect the bird belonged to the race
sparsimstriata, from west and central-south Siberia, but it is impossible to be certain.
Commentary: vagrant Siberian and Asiatic passerines recorded in winter or early spring in
Israel, e.g. Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler and Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis, are
typically autumn birds (reverse migrants) in north-west Europe. Perhaps these species occur
in Israel after overshooting their usual wintering destination (see also Green and Hume’s
Yellow-browed Warblers).
BLYTH’S REED WARBLER Acrocephalus dumetorum north-east Europe, central Asia and northern Middle East
First Israeli record: first-winter on 19 September 1985, Eilat. Trapped with P Alstroém, M.
Gellert and others; photographed in the hand.
Subsequent Israeli records: singles trapped at Eilat on 6 October 1985 and 13 and 14 May
1986 (Shirihai 1996); both photographed in the hand.
Other regional records: apparently vagrant rest of Levant. Breeds north-east Iran; rare or
scarce passage migrant eastern Middle East, e.g. Iran and UAE (Porter et al. 1996).
Background: to catch the first autumn migrants, e.g. Marsh Acrocephalus palustris and Olive-
tree Warblers Hippolais olivetorum, the ringing station has to be operative in late July. Limited
resources prevented this until 1985. Per Alstr6m and Merav Gellert worked alongside me
much of that autumn, which I look upon as one of the best. On 19 October, an Acrocephalus
that immediately appeared different to the tens of Reed A. scirpaceus and Marsh Warblers was
processed. After more than 30 measurements, it was confirmed as Blyth’s Reed Warbler.
Distinguishing characters: a full examination established the bird to be a typical Blyth’s Reed
Warbler. Key measurements were: wing-length: 63.5 mm; tail-length: 55 mm; bill to skull: 16.8
mm; tip of wing = p7 > p9 (= p4) 5.8 mm; emargination on p8 and p7; notch p9 < secondaries 6
mm; notch p8 (length = 11 mm) = pl. The primary projection was relatively short, with the
primaries bunched at the tip. The upperparts were relatively warm and rufous-washed
compared to typical adult Blyth’s Reed (which is duller greyish brown), revealing it to be a
first-winter. However, it was not as bright and rich rufous as first-winter Marsh or Reed, and
it lacked the rusty rump-possessed to a varying degree by both of the latter species. In
addition, the entire upperparts were more uniform than in either of those species; the tertials
and alula feathers had no contrasting pale fringes or conspicuous dark centres. The underparts
were pale and relatively uniform, with a dirty buff wash on the body-sides. The head pattern
was closer to Olivaceous Hippolais pallida than other Acrocephalus, with a short supercilium and
more prominent eye-ring; the tip of the lower mandible had only a trace of a dark smudge.
The legs were greyish flesh, tinged purplish, and the short claws (hind claw = 6 mm)
approached Marsh in shape and colour.
Commentary: once the ringing station was established at Eilat, it was only going to be a
matter of time before this species was recorded in Israel.
BASRA REED WARBLER Acrocephalus griseldis Mesopotamia
First Israeli record: one on 20 May 1984, Eilat. Trapped; photographed in the hand.
| Subsequent Israeli records: six 1984-1993: one at Sede Boger, three at Eilat and two in Bet
| Hadoram Shirihai 95
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Shean Valley; some photographed (see Shirihai 1996). Four recent spring records: three
trapped Bet Shean and one at Eilat.
Other regional records: breeds Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia; vagrant Cyprus; no other
Western Palearctic records (Snow & Perrins 1998). Passage migrant east and south Arabia;
very rare rest of Middle East (Porter et al. 1996).
Background: an exceptional array of eastern migrants was recorded at Eilat in spring 1984,
including significant numbers of River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis, the eastern race zarudnyi of
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus and White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis.
Much of southern Israel experienced a heatwave on 20 May, producing a remarkable landfall
of migrants. I caught several zarudnyi Great Reeds, and another bird which I identified as A. a.
griseldis using Williamson (1967). I found it difficult to believe that this smaller, greyer and
narrower-billed bird, with whiter underparts and slaty legs, could be subspecific—indeed —
griseldis has been treated as specifically distinct since the late 1980s.
Distinguishing characters: compared to other large Acrocephalus species and subspecies I was
familiar with, the bird was considerably smaller, with a wing-length of 81 mm and tail-length
of 59 mm. It also had the diagnostic combination of long primary projection and a longish,
slender slightly decurved bill (bill-length = 22.5 mm; bill-depth at front of nostrils = 3.8 mm).
The upperparts, which were much colder and greyer than Great Reed, were rather uniformly
pale olivaceous-brown, with the remiges and (especially) the rectrices contrastingly darker; the
underparts were clean white-looking, with a cream-buff wash on the flanks. The supercilium
was quite prominent, extending well behind the eye, and accentuated by a dusky eye-stripe; a
prominent darkish loral patch emphasised the distinctive eye-ring. The lower mandible was
horn-pink, particularly at the base, and the legs were largely grey.
Identification tips: the species is described well in Pearson & Backhurst (1988), Svensson
(1992) and Shirihai et al. (1995, 1996a).
Commentary: most of the 11 Israeli records of Basra Reed Warbler are in May, with the rest in
mid-March-mid-June and one in September, a pattern of occurrence similar to that in east and
south Arabia (Shirihai 1996). The high proportion of recent records; six since spring 1993, may
be due to more than increased observer coverage: destruction of the southern Iraq marshes is
apparently forcing the species to seek new breeding grounds. One present at Eilat for several
weeks in spring 1998 is the only twitchable individual recorded in the Western Palearctic.
EASTERN REED WARBLER Acrocephalus orientalis east and south-east Asia
First Israeli record: one from 28 February—13 April 1988, Eilat. Found with B. Laird; seen and
photographed by several other birders.
Subsequent Israeli records: one trapped on 2 May 1990, Eilat (Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: no other Western Palearctic or Middle East records (Snow & Perrins
1998);
Background: the bird was feeding in the open in the reed-fringed canal that runs toward
North Beach. Its shape appeared intermediate between Great Reed and Clamorous Reed
Warblers Acrocepahlus stentoreus, and it had breast-streaking and white tail-corners. Later Bill
Laird and I relocated the bird, and tentatively identified it as the eastern race ‘orientalis’ of
Great Reed. It stayed until 9 March, when a tractor began digging an adjacent part of the canal,
but re-appeared in the same place on 2 April. A few months later, I was able to confirm the
identification at the Natural History Museum, Tring. This taxon has since been accorded
species status (see Dutch Birding 19: 294-300).
Distinguishing characters: clearly smaller and daintier than Great Reed Warbler, with a
noticeably shorter primary projection formed by c. seven closely bunched primary-tips. It had
structural characters reminiscent of both Great Reed and Clamorous Reed Warblers. For )
example, the bill/tail seemed more slender than in Great Reed and thicker/squarer than in
Clamorous. The upperparts were predominantly greyish brown-olive, with light olive-buff
feather edges (mainly on the upperwing); the underparts were essentially clean white,
although the upper flanks were washed buffish. The plumage was reminiscent of the greyish
96 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Eastern Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
eastern race (zarudny1) of Great Reed Warbler, the paler Arabian/south-central Asian race
(brunnescens) of Clamorous Reed Warbler, and Basra Reed Warbler. Unlike these forms,
however, the Eilat bird had shaft-like (i.e. fine) dark streaks on the lower throat and upper
breast, and fairly obvious (albeit slightly worn) pale tips to the tail feathers. It was also
separated from zarudnyi by its small size, slimmer build, shorter primary projection, longer
more graduated tail, narrower (therefore longer-looking) bill, and grey legs; from brunnescens
by its bolder, longer white supercilium, paler upperparts, longer wing, shorter tail, and
shorter less pointed bill; and from griseldis by its much shorter primary projection, longer,
deeper-graduated tail, and broader bill. In late February, it appeared to have slightly worn
plumage—indicating that it had completed its moult in early autumn. In April, it looked even
more worn. The plumage of Great Reed and Basra Reed would have looked fresher, because
they complete their moult later.
Commentary: Shirihai et al. (1995, 1996a) shed light on the identification of large Acrocephalus
warblers, while Svensson (1992) deals with identification in the hand. Nevertheless, the identi-
fication of this group remains complex and problematic for the unwary or inexperienced
observer. Hybridisation is an additional factor to consider: I have trapped four birds at Eilat
showing characters intermediate between A. orientalis and A. a. zarudnyi. These birds may
have originated from a zone where the two forms overlap and interbreed (Shirihai 1996); such
a zone may also be the source of the two typical A. orientalis recorded at Eilat. This
(theoretical) phenomenon seems to apply to other east Palearctic vagrants, e.g. Hume’s
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus humei and Chiffchaff P. collybita tristis. The case of
Crested Honey Buzzard offers an alternative, simpler explanation. Very small numbers of
birds belonging to species that winter in southern Asia appear to migrate west in autumn, ie.
through the Middle East to East Africa. The westernmost populations of some east Palearctic
species may adopt the migration strategies of equivalent west Palearctic species.
_ BOOTED WARBLER Hippolais caligata western Russia, central Asia and eastern Middle East
First Israeli record: first-winter (probably nominate caligata) on 14 August 1982, Umm Safa
wood, central Shamaria Mountains. Found with Y. Baser and D. Zafrir.
Subsequent Israeli records: seven birds 1983-1994, all Eilat: nominate caligata trapped in
April and May 1985; rama trapped in May 1983, September 1984 and October 1988; rama
overwintering December 1993-April 1994; one (race unspecified) March-April 1986; all
trapped birds photographed in the hand (Shirihai 1996).
“i
| Hadoram Shirihai 97
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Other regional records: nominate caligata vagrant to north and west Europe and (probably)
rest of Near East; in Middle East, rama breeds Iran and north Oman and winters south Arabia
(scarce), but vagrant elsewhere, e.g. in Levant (Alstrém et al. 1991, Shirihai 1996).
Background: Yaron Baser, Dror Zafrir and I embarked on a ringing scheme in autumn 1982.
One of our research sites was a wadi near Umm Safa wood, a natural Mediterranean pine
forest. My interest was in several little-known plumages of Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza
caesia. As the day advanced, we moved our ringing site to the shade of the trees, and our aim
on 14 August was to count the 100s of Great Tit Parus major using a nearby spring. The trees
were full of feeding Olivaceous and Bonelli’s Warblers Phylloscopus bonelli. At midday, | found
a tiny Hippolais with a prominent supercilium. We watched it for some time, confident it was a
Booted Warbler, but were unable to confirm the identification until the following May, when
Yaron, Alon Ber and I trapped another Booted Warbler at Eilat, enabling Yaron and I to be
certain that the Umm Safa bird was the same species.
Distinguishing characters: tiny—little larger than Bonelli’s Warbler—and its overall
impression was Phylloscopus-like. It was extremely active, making occasional flycatching
sallies and sometimes hovering like a Phylloscopus. The most distinctive features were the
rounded head, very short wings and long, whitish supercilium. It also gave harsh chet calls.
The facial markings were striking compared to the numerous nearby Olivaceous Warblers. A
whitish, buff-tinged supercilium ran from the bill-base to well behind the eye, ending brubtly
and accentuated by a vague, shorter and darker, lateral crown-stripe. The lores were clearly
pale, although a very faint, darkish eye-stripe ran from just in front of the eye and parallel
with the supercilium before petering out. This emphasised the supercilium and the whitish
eye-ring. The bill was very short and slender, and gave little indication of the classic Hippolais-
like broad base. The plumage was relatively fresh, ageing the bird as a first-winter. The soft-
toned upperparts were pale brown with a limited greyish cream suffusion, but also had a
sandy-buff tinge (most noticeable on the rump). The tertials were less plain than in
Olivaceous, having relatively well-defined pale fringes. The tail was square-ended and the
outermost feathers were distinctly tipped and edged white. Below, the bird was white, with a
subtle buff-cream suffusion on the breast/flanks emphasising the white throat and belly; the
darkish alula produced a moderately strong dark-and-light contrast. The pale areas on the legs
and bill were greyish horn, tinged buff-pink. It seems most likely to have been nominate
caligata.
Identification tips: rama Booted Warbler is easily confused with elaeica Olivaceous Warbler
and with several of that species’ other, small Middle Eastern and North African races (see
Shirihai et al. 1996b). I have ringed nine birds intermediate between rama and Olivaceous at
Eilat (Shirihai 1996).
Commentary: several authorities now consider rama and caligata as separate species, but |
prefer to follow Svensson (1992) and Snow & Perrins (1998), pending further study of the
ecology, biology, vocalisations and DNA of the two forms.
GREEN WARBLER Phylloscopus (trochiloides) nitidus Caucasus and central Asia
First Israeli record: first-winter on 27 October 1987, Eilat. Trapped with E. Hansson, B. Laird,
M. Leivo and M. Gellert; photographed in the hand.
Other regional records: breeds north Turkey and north Iran, but ee vagrant rest of
Middle East, e.g. eastern Arabia; vagrant north-west Europe (Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: the ringing station’s nets had been closed for the day when Mauri Leivo
reported a wing-barred Phylloscopus. We went to relocate the bird, accompanied by Merav
Gellert, Erik Hansson and Bill Laird. I immediately identified it as Green Warbler—a species I
was familiar with in north-east Turkey—and set a net to catch it.
Distinguishing characters: instantly singled out as different by its extensive bright lemon-
yellow coloration, including the supercilium, head-sides, eye-ring, throat, remige-fringes and
wingbars. The plumage was fresh and rich in yellow pigmentation, indicating it was a first-
winter. The upperparts were greenish olive, tinged grey, particularly on the crown and —
98 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
especially noticeable in relation to the yellow face. Equally striking was the contrast between
the olive-green suffused breast and the near-silky white belly, which recalled Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrix; there was also a faint yellowish wash on the upper flanks and vent-
sides. The bold wingbar on the greater-coverts appeared broader and more distinct than
typical Greenish Warbler P. trochiloides, and there was a suggestion of a median-covert bar.
The head pattern differed from Greenish in its yellow supercilium (not whitish cream),
prominent behind/above the eye but narrow and ill-defined in front, reached the bill-base
(rather than the nostrils), and its eye-stripe was dusky (with no darker loral stripe). The pale
lower mandible—almost entirely pinkish yellow—drew attention to the broad bill-base. The
greyish brown legs were paler than typical Greenish. Most calls heard, especially one
resembling White Wagtail Motacilla alba, were Greenish-like.
Commentary: Svensson (1992), Snow & Perrins (1998) and other authorities—but not Porter et
al. (1996)—treat nitidus as a subspecies of trochiloides. Following Jonsson (1992), I prefer to treat
the form as P. (t) nitidus until further research suggests otherwise, especially as nitidus and
trochiloides are comparatively easy to separate in the field. In common with the rest of the
Levant, Israel does not experience reverse migration, by which many eastern species reach
north and west Europe. It follows that species such as Green Warbler are vagrants to the
Levant despite breeding a relatively short distance away. However, records of Asian vagrants
peak in October-November in both the Levant and Europe (see Shirihai 1996).
CAUCASIAN CHIFFCHAFFE Phylloscopus lorenzii Caucasus
First Israeli record: one on 5 March 1983, Eilat. Observed with N. Nhary (HS in Ben Dov &
Golan 1983).
Subsequent Israeli record: one on 31 October 1998 at Lotan, Arara Valley (J. P. Smith).
Other regional records: breeds Caucasus, north-east Turkey and northern Iran; apparently
passage and winter visitor [ran and Iraq; probably no other records rest of Middle East (Snow
& Perrins 1998).
Background: there was a huge fall of abietinus Chiffchaffs in the Kibbutz Eilot alfalfa fields on
5 March. Fortunately, I was with an extremely enthusiastic birder—Noam Nhary—who
helped count the 100s of birds. I noticed a confiding darker chocolate-tinged bird, which
permitted identification as Jorenzii. Returning an hour or so later with Oz Horin, the bird
appeared to have gone.
Distinguishing characters: clearly a Chiffchaff, but its plumage was strikingly different to that
of the 100s of abietinus nearby, being very dusky and brown (see Commentary). The
upperparts were slaty-brown—including the rump which lacked all trace of the greenish tinge
a Caucasian Chiffchaff Phyllosopus lorenzii.
A on Impression of the first record
: by James P. Smith.
~ Hadoram Shirihai 99
|
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
found to a greater or lesser degree in most forms of Chiffchaff and its allies. The breast, flanks
and vent-sides were a lighter and duller shade of fulvous, creating the impression of a white
throat and belly patch. The flight and tail feathers never showed any olive-green coloration,
but had dark blackish brown bases and very thin pale buffish fringes. The wings (including
the tertials) looked concolorously dark, without the obvious pale fringes typical of some forms
and plumages of Chiffchaff. The supercilium was long, prominent and exaggerated by the
contrasting dark eye-stripe, and became wider and whiter from above the eye forwards but
slightly buff behind it, whereas the opposite is true of most Chiffchaff forms. There was a
conspicuous white eye-ring. The ear-coverts appeared relatively dark and brownish, mottled
buff. It had a short-winged appearance compared to Chiffchaff, and apparently a shorter
primary projection, while the tail looked proportionately longer and narrower. Both the legs
and very thin bill were blacker than in Chiffchaff, but with an obvious yellow base to the
lower mandible.
Commentary: there is still much to learn concerning the taxonomy and identification of the
Chiffchaff complex but, through extensive study of lorenzii in north-east Turkey, I am inclined
to regard P. sindianus (Mountain Chiffchaff) and P. lorenzii (Caucasian Chiffchaff) as specif-
ically distinct, following Helbig et al. (1996).
HUME’S YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus humei southern Siberia and central Asia
First Israeli record: one on 12-13 October 1981, Wadi Haymann, near Mashabbe Sade, north-
central Negev. HS sole observer. .
Subsequent Israeli records: eight birds 1983-1993, mainly Eilat and southern Arava Valley in
winter and early spring, of which four (one Jerusalem, three Eilat) ringed and photographed
in the hand (Shirihai 1996). Most recent records: overwintering singles at Eilat and Yotvata,
January—March 1998 (L. Evans, B. Horn, K. Mullarney, HS et al.).
Other regional records: probably (confirmed in Turkey and Arabia) rare passage migrant and
winter visitor rest of Middle East; vagrant Europe (Alstr6m et al. 1991, Porter et al. 1996).
Background: despite undertaking National Service in 1981, I continued birding, always
carrying binoculars and, when a rifle was not required (most of the time), telescope. In
October 1981, we were camped in a lush wadi in the Negev. Unlike almost everyone else, I
considered myself fortunate to be there. Whenever time permitted, I took a short trail and in
this way found a Yellow-browed Warbler on 12 October. I saw it on several occasions over
two days and it always appeared very dull grey. As I had no field guides with me, I had to
- wait until my next leave before I could compare my sketches with the little comparative
information I could find on the eastern and western forms of the species.
Distinguishing characters: my first impressions were of a tiny, generally dull Phylloscopus
with an obvious supercilium and greater-coverts bar. The call was highly distinctive: a short,
sparrow-like tsuee-eep. Its plumage was much less yellow-green than Yellow-browed Warbler,
a species with which I was familiar: the supercilium, cheeks, wingbars and underparts were
whiter-cream, and only the remige-fringes were tinged greenish yellow. Due to their relatively
pale bases and fringes, the greater-coverts bar was less obvious than in Yellow-browed,; the
rather faded median-coverts bar was formed by unconnected pale feather-tips. The
supercilium appeared narrower and ill-defined in front of the eye, and the legs darker-looking
than in Yellow-browed.
Identification tips: care must be exercised when separating humei and inornatus in winter and
spring, as worn first-spring inornatus can appear surprisingly dull and bleached yellow.
Although such birds are bleached much whiter/greyer, the only sure way to correctly identify
these species at this season is to precisely describe the state of the plumage and check all other
characters, especially vocalisation. Plate xx depicts a worn first-spring inornatus and a fresh
adult humet. Note that differences in age and plumage make the former look dull and superfi-
cially similar in colour to the latter. For further information on separation of humei and
inornatus, see Alstrém et al. (1991), Svensson (1992), Shirihai & Madge (1993) and Shirihai et al.
(1996a).
100 Hadoram Shirihat
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
Commentary: Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler is perhaps the only Siberian vagrant to be
recorded in comparable numbers in Israel and European countries, but the ratio between
humei and inornatus is far smaller in Israel. The former is an accidental or extremely rare
overwinterer in Israel, whereas the latter is a very rare autumn migrant.
AMETHYST STARLING Cinnyricinclus leucogaster sub-Saharan Africa and south-west Arabia
First Israeli record: adult male from 5 July—14 August 1983 (Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: breeds south-west Arabia. No other Western Palearctic records.
Background: the date palms at Eilat are normally devoid of migrant passerines in July, but
surprises still occur. My reason for visiting on this particular day was to look for an Eagle Owl
which was roosting in the area. Whilst scanning the topmost branches, I flushed an
unmistakable adult male Amethyst Starling. The bird lingered until mid-August, but caused
little interest, as I assumed it was an escape. My greater understanding of the occurrence of
vagrants at Eilat now leads me to believe otherwise (see Commentary).
Distinguishing characters: its upperparts and head-to-breast area were an eye-catching
iridescent purple-violet (or bluish magenta) and sharply demarcated from the white belly; the
remiges were contrastingly black. The head was darker—especially on the ear-coverts and
throat, the iris yellow and the short black bill had a yellow gape spot. It was c. 10% smaller
than Starling Sturna vulgaris, and its flight was fast.
Identification tips: based on my experience of the species in Africa, the non-male plumages of
Amethyst Starling are distinctive. The iris and bill are as in the adult male, but the head is
buff-brown, with a finely dark-streaked nape. There are prominent pale tawny fringes to the
upperpart feathers, and the white belly and buffish throat/breast are liberally streaked dark
brown.
Commentary: a bird as colourful as adult male Amethyst Starling is certain to be a popular
and widely kept cagebird, and the Eilat record was classed as probably an escape in Shirihai
(1996). However, as the species is migratory and its Arabian breeding range almost reaches
the northern half of the Red Sea (Porter et al. 1996), it is clearly a potential vagrant to Israel’s
Rift Valley: many Israeli records of African vagrants, e.g. Yellow-billed Stork, Pink-backed
Pelican and Cape Teal, are also from the summer. Therefore, I now propose that this record be
accepted as a genuine vagrant.
ff
Amethyst Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
Hadoram Shirihai 101
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius pallidirostris.
Impression of the first record
by James P. Smith.
STEPPE GREY SHRIKE Lanius pallidirostris Asian steppes
First Israeli record: first-winter on 20 November 1987, Eilat. Trapped with M. Gellert and
others; photographed in the hand. .
Subsequent Israeli records: 2-3, all November 1997: Yotvata on 1st (K. Mullarney) and (same
bird?) 27th, and Km33, north of Eilat, on 22nd; four records late October—late November 1998,
Rift Valley (J. P. Smith, B. Granit et al.).
Other regional records: passage migrant and winter visitor Arabia, chiefly in east and south
but probably overlooked in Levant (Porter et al. 1996, Shirihai 1996) where just one record in
Jordan, in 1994. Vagrant north and west Europe (Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: I found the shrike four days after Israel’s only Blyth’s Pipit was last seen. It was
perching on the metal poles holding our nets and had already killed one bird, so I scared it
away. Fortunately, it didn’t fly far, because I then realised it was different to our local Great
Grey Shrikes Lanius excubitor aucheri (now known as Southern Grey Shrikes L. meridionalis
aucheri). | felt sure that this pallid, long-winged bird belonged to a different form, and the
other ringers helped me to coax it into a net. A full set of measurements is always recorded for
any uncommon taxon, regardless of whether it is classified as a subspecies or a species, So we
duly calculated the wing formulae and took a detailed description. The bird was confirmed as
L. e. pallidirostris, the first in Israel. In line with current taxonomic developments (see
Commentary), it is presented here as Israel's first Steppe Grey Shrike L. pallidirostris.
Distinguishing characters: appeared strikingly long-winged, compact and washed-out
compared to meridionalis. The in-hand examination proved it to have an admixture of
structural and plumage elements from both Southern Grey and Lesser Grey Shrikes L. minor,
combined with a number of diagnostic characters of its own. The head was rounded and the
bill proportionately slim (usually more stubby in Lesser Grey). The wings were long, with a
long primary projection approaching Lesser Grey: nearly six primaries were fully exposed
beyond the tertials. The wing-tip was formed by p7 and p8, and p9 was equal to p6, producing
a more pointed wing than in Southern Grey. The tail was longer than in Lesser Grey. It was
very pale above and below, to the extent that its upperparts appeared almost whitish grey. It
had very extensive white in the wing and pure white patches on the scapulars (not found in
Lesser Grey). A subtle sandy overtone was detectable on the upperparts, and the off white
underparts had a pinkish buff tinge, strongest on the breast and flanks. The bird had a
distinctive bare-faced expression, generated by the pale lores (which restricted the noticeably
dusky mask to behind the eye) and the pale horn colour of the slightly dark-tipped bill. It had
a faint supercilium (probably never shown by Lesser Grey) and completely lacked mottling or
scaly markings on the head, mantle/scapulars and breast.
Commentary: | cautiously treated pallidirostris as a race of excubitor in Shirihai (1996), but
Great Grey Shrike taxonomy has received much attention since and I now opt to treat it as a
species, following the Dutch committee on avian systematics (CSNA) and others, e.g. Clement
102 Hadoram Shirihat
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
(1995), Sangster et al. (1997), Wassink (1997) and Tenovuo & Varrela (1998). My observations
of pallidirostris wintering in Ethiopia and meridionalis (of races aucheri and elegans) in Israel also
lead to me believe that the first-named form is specifically distinct. It appears that pallidirostris
and meridionalis are as distinctive and well separated as meridionalis is from excubitor; a widely
accepted taxonomic revision (e.g. Lefranc & Worfolk 1997).
YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING Enmberiza aureola northern Palearctic
First Israeli record: female-type on 13 September 1979, Eilat (Shirihai & Dovrat 1979). HS sole
observer.
Subsequent Israeli records: first-winter on 18-19 September 1979, Eilat (HS & Ehud Dovrat);
six first-winters 1980-1994: four (three Eilat, one Tel Aviv) in September and two (both Eilat)
in October-November; adult male on 25 May 1982, Eilat (Shirihai 1996).
Other regional records: breeds Finland and Russia, vagrant north-west Europe, Egypt and
Arabia (Snow & Perrins 1998).
Background: of all the species new to Israel in whose discovery I have played a part, Yellow-
breasted Bunting is the last systematically but first chronologically. I was 17 years old and its
discovery is still one of my fondest birding memories. In September 1979, Ehud Dovrat and I
made a long trip to Eilat and Sinai. On the 13th we briefly parted company so that Ehud could
take another look at a Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus (then regarded as extremely rare
in Israel). I left him in the palm groves behind North Beach, and found the bunting in an
alfalfa field north of there. Unfortunately, it was too late in the day for Ehud to connect with
the bird. Five days later, I found another and this time Ehud managed to see it the next day.
Our expedition had another lasting consequence: so impressed by the number and variety of
birds I had seen, I moved to Eilat the following year.
Distinguishing characters: unmistakeable due to its yellowish underparts, striking head
pattern and small size. The heavily dark-streaked crown-sides appeared as broad lateral
stripes, bordering a pale median crown-stripe above and a prominent cream supercilium
below. There was an obvious dark spot on the rear of the ear-coverts, the lores were pale and
the throat almost white; a very indistinct malar stripe was also noted. The predominantly
yellow underparts were streaked dark brown on the breast (sparse and faint) and breast-
sides / flanks (bolder), but the belly-centre and undertail-coverts were plain white. Dark brown
streaks on the buffish cream mantle/scapulars gave the impression of bold lines, and the
rump/uppertail-coverts were rufous and finely streaked dark. The outertail feathers were
broadly edged pale. The median-coverts formed a prominent whitish wingbar, and a much
thinner pale bar ran along the edges of the greater-coverts. The bill was pale, with an ill-
defined darker ridge. The bird gave a tzip flight-call.
Commentary: Yellow-breasted Bunting’s pattern of occurrence in Israel is not dissimilar to
that in west and north Europe, in timing and numbers recorded (see Alstrém et al. 1991).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Three people helped make this paper possible. Ben Hoare worked tirelessly with me for three weeks to
convert my handwritten manuscript into computer text, despite the distractions of the spring migration.
James P. Smith studied 30 of the records to produce accurate drawings of the birds I saw. Mark Gilston,
who often accompanies me in the field, helped draft the background a¢counts to each occurrence. In
addition, Julian Francis and Professor Hans Jérnval generously sponsored the writing of this paper. Reuven
Yosef made useful suggestions in the early stages. Dan Alon, Bill Bourne, Erik Hirschfeld and Killian
Mullarney kindly commented on individual species texts, and the latter has proved to be one of my best
European field companions—exchanging and sharing our field experience has contributed enormously to
my enjoyment of birding. John Morgan has spent countless hours with me at the Eilat ringing station and
has made an enormous contribution to our understanding of the region’s avifauna. Ehud Dovrat, as my
principal field companion and partner in The birds of Israel, and as a member of the IRDC, played a major
role in this manuscript’s evolution; I am also grateful for his coming to see many of the major rarities I
found at Eilat in the early days. Ted Hoogendoorn deserves my special thanks for his cooperation and
sharing of his intimate knowledge of the identification of the world’s gulls, and for commenting extensively
Hadoram Shirthai 103
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
on the Brown-headed Gull text. Iam very grateful to my friend and colleague Julian Francis for his useful
comments on an early draft of the paper and for sponsoring the colour photographs in this issue. Thanks
are also due to Vaughan Ashby of Birdfinders, David Fisher of Sunbird and Walter Schwab of Leica Camera
International for sponsoring an important part of the production of this issue. Maria San Roman provided
computer assistance and encouragement during my work on this paper, and Andrew Grieve organised its
publication. The International Birdwatching Center Eilat (IBCE), Israel Ornithological Center (of the SPNI)
and the Nature Reserves Authority have supported my work over many years. My wife, Lily, has
accompanied me in the field for some years and, together with my father, Eli, mother, Batia, and mother-in-
law, Simcha, has provided much encouragement and support. Finally, Duncan Brooks, the former editor of
Sandgrouse, first suggested this paper to me, and the present editors, Guy Kirwan and Ian Andrews,
persuaded me to write it.
REFERENCES
ALSTROM, P., COLSTON, P. R. AND LEWINGTON, I. (1991) A field guide to the rare birds of Britain and Europe.
Harper Collins, London.
ALSTROM, P. AND OLSSON, U. (1989) The identification of juvenile Red-necked and Long-toed Stints. Brit.
Birds 82: 360-372.
ANDREWS, I. J. (1994) Description and status of the black morph Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens in
Jordan. Sandgrouse 16: 32-35.
ANpbREWwS, I. J. (1995) The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Andrews, Musselburgh.
AUSTIN, J. J. (1996) Molecular phylogenetics of Puffinus shearwaters: preliminary evidence from
mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 6: 77-88.
BAHA EL DIN, S. AND BAHA EL DIN, M. (1997) Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus, a new species for
Egypt and the African continent. Bull. ABC 4: 31.
BEN Dov, A. AND GOLAN, J. (1983) New species of birds in Israel 1975-1983. Tzufit 1: 13-33. (In Hebrew).
VAN DEN BERG, A. B., HOOGENDOORN, W. AND MULLARNEY, K. (1991) Wing and tail moult in first-year Brown-
headed Gulls wintering in Thailand. Dutch Birding 13: 58-63.
BourNE, W. R. P. (1983a) A Gon-gon Pterodroma (mollis) feae in Israel. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 103: 110.
Bourne, W. R. P. (1983b) The Soft-plumaged Petrel, the Gon-gon and the Freira, Pterodroma mollis, P. feae
and P. madeira. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 103: 52-58.
BOURNE, W. R. P. AND BUNDY, G. (1990) Records of Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus and Grey-
headed Gull L. cirrocephalus around Arabia. Sandgrouse 12: 37-42.
BRETAGNOLLE, V. AND ATTIE, C. (1996) Coloration and biometrics of fledgling Audubon’s Shearwaters
Puffinus lherminieri from Réunion Island. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 116: 194-197.
CarEY, G. AND OLSSON, U. (1995) Field identification of Common, Wilson’s, Pintail and Swinhoe’s Snipes.
Birding World 8: 179-190.
CHANDLER, R. J. (1989) North Atlantic shorebirds. Macmillan, London.
CLEMENT, P. (1987) Field identification of west Palearctic wheatears. Brit. Birds 80: 137-157; 187-238.
CLEMENT, P. (1995) Southern and eastern Great Grey Shrikes in northwest Europe. Birding World 8: 300-309.
CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1985) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 4. Oxford University Press.
CRAMP, S. AND SIMMONS, K. E. L. (eds.) (1983) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 3. Oxford University Press.
DOHERTY, P. (1991) Identification of juvenile Long-toed Stint and Least Sandpiper. Birding World 4: 279-281.
ENTICOTT, J. W. (1991) Identification of Soft-plumaged Petrel. British Birds 84: 245-264.
ENTICOTT, J. W. AND TIPLING, D. (1997) Photographic handbook of the seabirds of the world. New Holland, London.
ETCHECOPAR, R. D. AND HUE, F. (1967) The birds of North Africa. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.
FORSMAN, D. (1994) Field identification of Crested Honey Buzzard. Birding World 7: 396-403.
FORSMAN, D. AND SHIRIHAI, H. (1997) Identification, ageing and sexing of Honey-buzzard. Dutch Birding 19: 1-8.
GANTLETT, S. (1995) Field separation of Fea’s, Zino’s and Soft-plumaged Petrels. Birding World 8: 256-260.
GOODMAN, S. M. AND MEININGER, P. L. (eds.) (1989) The birds of Egypt. Oxford University Press.
HARRISON, P. (1983) Seabirds: an identification guide. Croom Helm, Kent.
HELBIG, A. J., MARTENS, J., SEIBOLD, I., HENNING, F., SCHOTTLER, B. AND WINK, M. (1996) Phylogeny and species
limits in the Palearctic Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita complex: mitochondrial genetic differentiation
and bioacoustic evidence. [bis 138: 650-666.
HIRSCHFELD, E. (1992) Identification of Rufous Turtle Dove. Birding World 5: 52-57.
HIRSCHFELD, E. (1994) Seabird observations off Dhofar (Oman), 1990-92. Sandgrouse 14: 62-71.
HIRSCHFELD, E., ROSELAAR, C. AND SHIRIHAI, H. (in press) Identification, taxonomy and distribution of sand
plovers. Brit. Birds.
HOoGENDOORN, W. (1991) Record of Brown-headed Gull in Israel in May 1985. Dutch Birding 13: 104-106.
HOovEL, H. (1987) Checklist of the birds of Israel. SPNI, Tel Aviv.
JANNES, H. (1995) Idanturturikyyhky. Alula 1: 56-65.
JONSSON, L. (1992) Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Helm, London.
JONSSON, L. AND GRANT, P. J (1984) Identification of stints and peeps. Brit. Birds 77: 293-315.
LAINE, L. J. (1996) The ‘Borcka Puzzle’—the first Western Palearctic Crested Honey Buzzard. Birding World 9:
324-325.
LEFRANC, N. AND WoRFOLK, T. (1997) Shrikes. Pica Press, Robertsbridge.
104 Hadoram Shirihai
Fifty species new to Israel, 1979-1998: their discovery and documentation, with tips on identification
MADGE, S. C. (1977) Field identification of Pintail Snipe. Brit. Birds 70: 146-154.
MALLING OLSEN, K. AND LARSSON, H. (1995) Terns of Europe and North America. Helm, London.
MALLING OLSEN, K. AND LARSSON, H. (1997) Skuas and jaegars. Pica Press, Robertsbridge.
MARCHANT, S. AND HIGGINS, P. J. (1990) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic birds. Vol. 1. Oxford
University Press.
MorGAN, J. H. AND SHIRIHAI, H. (1992) Streaked Shearwater in Israel—a new Western Palearctic bird. Birding
World 5: 344-347.
MorcGAn, J. H. AND SHIRIHAI, H. (1997) Passerines and passerine migration in Eilat. Int. Birdw. Cent. Eilat
Tech. Publ. 6 (1).
PEARSON, D. J. AND BACKHURST, G. C. (1988) Characters and taxonomic position of Basra Reed Warbler. Brit.
Birds 81: 171-178.
VAN PERLO, B. (1995) Birds of Eastern Africa. HarperCollins, London.
PORTER, R. F., CHRISTENSEN, S. AND SCHIERMACKER-HANSEN, P. (1996) Field guide to the birds of the Middle East.
T. & A. D. Poyser, London.
SANGSTER, G., HAZEVOET, C. J., VAN DEN BERG, A. B. AND ROSELAAR, C. S. (1997) Dutch avifaunal list:
taxonomic changes in 1977-97. Dutch Birding 19: 21-28.
VAN DER SCHOT, W. E. M. (1989) Atlantic Petrel in Israel in April 1989. Dutch Birding 11: 170-172.
SHIRIHAL, H. (1982) Bird migration at Eilat, autumn 1980. SPNI, Tel Aviv. (In Hebrew).
SHIRIHAI, H. (1984) Storm Petrels (Hydrobatidae) in Israel—their distribution and identification. Tzufit 2:
29-43. (English summary).
SHIRIHAI, H. (1986a) The Small Skylark, a species new to Israel and the Middle East. Sandgrouse 7: 47-54.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1986b) The identification of Oriental Skylark. Brit. Birds 79: 186-197.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1987a) Shearwaters and other tubenoses at Eilat. Dutch Birding 9: 152-157.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1987b) Field characters of Mountain Chiffchaff. Proc. of the 4th International Identification
Meeting Eilat November 1986. Int. Birdw. Cent. Eilat.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1988) Pintail Snipe in Israel in November 1984 and its identification. Dutch Birding 10: 1-11.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1992) Grey-headed Gulls in Israel and their identification. Dutch Birding 14: 1-6.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1994a) The Crested Honey Buzzard in Israel—a new Western Palearctic bird. Birding World 7:
404-406.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1994b) Separation of Tawny Eagle from Steppe Eagle in Israel. Brit. Birds 87: 396-397.
SHIRIHAL, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND ALSTROM, P. (1990) Identification of Hume’s Short-toed Lark. Brit. Birds 83: 262-272.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND CHRISTIE, D. A. (1992) Raptor migration at Eilat. Brit. Birds 85: 141-186.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND CHRISTIE, D. A. (1996) A new taxon of small shearwater from the Indian Ocean. Bull. Brit.
Orn. Club 116: 180-186.
SHIRIHAI, H., CHRISTIE, D. A. AND HARRIS, A. (1996a) The Macmillan birder’s guide to European and Middle
Eastern Birds. Macmillan, London.
SHIRIHAI, H., CHRISTIE, D. A. AND HARRIS, A. (1996b) Identification of Hippolais warblers. Brit. Birds 89: 114-138.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND COLSTON, P. R. (1987) Siberian Water Pipits in Israel. Dutch Birding 9: 8-12.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND COLSTON, P. R. (1992) A new race of the Sand Martin Riparia riparia from Israel. Bull. Brit.
Orn. Club 112: 129-132.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND Dovrar, E. (1979) The Yellow-breasted Bunting in Eilot fields. Kanaf Renanim 12: 15. (In
Hebrew).
SHIRIHAI, H. AND MADGE, S. C. (1993) Identification of Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler. Birding World 6:
439-443.
SHIRIHAI, H., MORGAN, J., AUSTIN, J. J., PARKIN, D., BRETAGNOLLE, V., WRAGG, G., COLSTON, P. R., HAYMAN, H., KING,
J. AND ATTIE, C. (in prep.) Notes on the taxonomic validity of Puffinus atrodorsalis.
SHIRIHAI, H., ROSELAAR, C. S., HELBIG, A. J., BARTHEL P. H. AND VAN LOON, A. J. (1995) Identification and
taxonomy of large Acrocephalus warblers. Dutch Birding 17: 229-239.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND SINCLAIR, I. (1994) An unidentified shearwater at Eilat. Birding World 7: 274-278.
SHIRIHAI, H., SINCLAIR, I. AND COLSTON, P. R. (1995) A new species of Puffinus shearwater from the western
Indian Ocean. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 115: 75-87.
SNow, D. W. AND PERRINS, C. M. (eds.) (1998) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise edition. Vols. 1 & 2.
Oxford University Press. /
SVENSSON, L. (1992) Identification guide to European passerines. (3rd edition). Stockholm.
TENOVUO, J. AND VARRELA, J. (1998) Identification of the Great Grey Shrike complex in Europe. Alula 4: 2-11.
TOVE, M. H. (1997a) Fea’s Petrel in North America. Part I. Birding 29: 207-214.
Tove, M. H. (1997b) Fea’s Petrel in North America. Part II. Birding 29: 309-315.
Tye, A. (1994) A description of the Middle Eastern black morph of Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens
from museum specimens. Sandgrouse 16: 28-31.
WILLIAMSON, K. (1967) Identification for ringers. The Genera Cettia, Locustella, Acrocephalus and Hippolais.
British Trust for Ornithology, Tring.
ZIMMERMAN, D. A., TURNER, D. A. AND PEARSON, D. J. (1996) Birds of Kenya and northern Tanzania. Helm, London.
Hadoram Shirihai, P. O. Box 4168, Eilat 88102, Israel.
~ Hadoram Shirihai 105
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
ecent Literature
Urban, E. K., Fry, C. H. & Keith, S. (1997)
The Birds of Africa Volume 5. Academic
Press, London.
Another impressive and thorough tome in the
continuing series which appears to get better
and better, and is replacing the pioneering
Mackworth-Praed & Grant as the continent’s
definitive ornithological reference. The easy to
use layout and style are now well known and
as good as any of the major handbooks. The
maps are of particularly high resolution and
the use of red for breeding ranges in this
volume has made them clearer and easier to
understand at a glance. The plates by Martin
Woodcock maintain the high standards set in
previous volumes, and the line drawings of
birds, nests, displays and behaviours scattered
through the text are particularly helpful. The
inclusion, at the front of the volume, of a list
and maps showing selected localities
mentioned in the text is also useful.
This work does, however, highlight how little
is known about some species and how much
ornithological exploration and study is still
needed. The time interval between this and
the last volume was five years, hopefully we
will not have to wait so long for volume six.
Rob Williams
RECENT LITERATURE
Compiled by Guy M. Kirwan & Effie Warr
This review, which is produced annually,
principally covers papers published in the
West European literature considered to be
most relevant to birders resident in the region.
All were published in 1998 unless otherwise
stated. Papers dealing wih aspects of the
following are usually included: status and
distribution, breeding biology, taxonomy and
identification. Papers co-written by more than
two authors are referenced to the lead author’s
name alone. The compilers would welcome
the submission of material for potential
inclusion, preferably by sending a reprint,
106
alternatively the citation and a summary of the
contents. These should be sent via: OSME, c/o
The Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL, U. K.
Regional
Clark, W. S. & Clarke, R. Differences in tarsal
length between adult female Montagu’s and
Pallid Harriers: an easy method to separate
specimens. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 118: 52-54.
Clark, W. S. & Schmitt, N. J. Ageing Egyptian
Vultures. Alula 4: 122-127.
Clement, P. & Helbig, A. J. Taxonomy and
identification of chiffchaffs in the Western
Palearctic. Brit. Birds 91: 361-376.
Corso, A. & Clark, W. S. Identification of Amur
Falcon. Birding World 11: 261-268.
Corso, A. & Gildi, R. Hybrids of Black Kite and
Common Buzzard in Italy in 1996. Dutch Birding
20: 226-233.
Covas, R. & Blondel, J. Biogeography and
history of the Mediterranean bird fauna. [bis 140:
395-407.
Forsman, D. Identification of
Sparrowhawk. Alula 4: 18-21.
Jonsson, L. Yellow-legged Gulls and yellow-
legged Herring Gulls in the Baltic. Alula 4:
74-100.
Kapanen, M. Finland next? Spectacled Warbler.
Alula 4: 14-15.
Klein, R. & Buchheim, A. (1997) Die westliche
Schwarzmeerktiste als Kontaktgebiet zweier
Grossmowenformen der Larus cachinnans-
Gruppe. Vogelwelt 118: 61-70.
Kossenko, S. M. & Fry, C. H. Competition and
coexistence of the European Bee-eater Merops
apiaster and the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops
persicus in Asia. Ibis 140: 2-13.
Leshem, Y. & Yom-Tov, Y. Routes of migrating
soaring birds. Ibis 140: 41-52.
Morgan, J. Wing moult in a passage Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis. Ringing & Migration 19: 56.
Morgan, J. Wing formula of Reed Warblers
Acrocephalus scirpaceus from Israel—a cautionary
note. Ringing & Migration 19: 57-58.
Olsen, K. M. Pale-headed great skuas. Dutch
Birding 20: 238.
Olsen, K. M. Common Tern variation and pale
bill-tips: a comment. Dutch Birding 20: 239-240.
Preddy, S. Identification features of Eastern and
Western Bonelli’s Warblers. Dutch Birding 20:
75-76.
Levant
Sangster, G. Trends in systematics. Purple —
Guy M. Kirwan and Effie Warr
Se aE ae he, a a a ee
Se wey et NR Oe ee
ae
.
Reviews & Recent Literature
Swamp-hen is a complex of species. Dutch
Birding 118: 13-22.
Shirihai, H. et al. Field identification of large
falcons in the West Palearctic. Brit. Birds 91:
12-35.
Tenovuo, J. & Varrela, J. Identification of the
Great Grey Shrike complex in Europe. Alula 4:
2-11.
Valle, R. & Scarton, F. Status and distribution of
Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus breeding
along Mediterranean coasts. Wader Study Group
Bull. 86: 26-30.
Votier, S. Lookalike shrikes. Birdwatch 77: 31-36.
Afghanistan
Galushin, V. M. & Polozov, S. A. Population
status and breeding ecology of the Long-tailed
Shrike (Lanius schach) in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Proc. 2nd International Shrike Symp.: 45-48.
Cyprus
Godfrey, M. (ed.) Cyprus Supplement. J. Royal
Air Force Orn Soc. 27.
Egypt
Ali, D. & Khalil, R. Breeding behaviour of
Kittlitz’s Plover. Dutch Birding 20: 115-118.
Provencal, P. & Sorensen, U. G. Mediaeval
record of the Siberian White Crane Grus
leucogeranus in Egypt. Ibis 140: 333-335.
Israel
Clark, W. S. & Yosef, R. Migrant Levant
Sparrowhawks (Accipter brevipes) at Elat, Israel:
measurements and timing. J. Raptor Res. 31:
317-320.
Court, L. et al. (1997) Griffon Vulture Gyps
fulous nest surveillance project at the Gamla
Nature Reserve, Golan Heights, Israel: 1996
conservation report. Vulture News 37: 10-20.
Powell, R. Israel: kibbutz birding. Birding World
11: 397-398.
Self, A. Promised land. Birdwatch 77: 51-52.
| ae J. Helping-at-the-nest and group size in
the Arabian Babbler Turdoides squamiceps. ].
Avian Biol, 29: 105-112.
Yosef, R. Migration of Red_backed (Lanius
| collurio), Masked (L. nubicus) and Woodchat
Shrikes (L. senator) at Eilat, Israel. Proc. 2nd
_ International Shrike Symp.: 5-8.
Yosef, R. & Hatzofe, O. (1997) Conservation
| aspects and former nest-site selection of the
_Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos
negevensis in Israel. Vulture News 37: 2-9.
| Jordan
) Khoury, F. Habitat associations and
| communities of breeding birds in the highlands
__of south-west Jordan. Zool. Middle East 16: 35-48.
Rifai, L. B. et al. On the diet of the Barn Owl,
_ Tyto alba, in northern Jordan. Zool. Middle East
» 16: 31-34.
Guy M. Kirwan and Effie Warr
Oman
Schaumburg, E. Oman—det ny fuglemekka.
Dansk. Orn. Fore. 92: 4-7.
Saudi Arabia
Seddon, P. J. (1997) Resident houbara bustard
populations in Saudi Arabia: do summer
ambient temperatures limit distribution? J. Arid
Environments 37: 551-556.
Turkey
Arihan, O. Recent information on the occurrence
of the Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in
Turkey: furmna 1: 10-15.
Boyla, K. et al. The status and distribution of
Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri in
Turkey. Turna 1: 24-27.
Crozier, J. East meets west. Birdwatching 100:
100-104 [account of birding in Turkey].
Kirwan, G. M. Ornithological observations on
Karadag, Konya province, Turkey, Tr. J. Zool. 22:
237-239.
Kurt, B. & Arik, B. First record of a fully albino
Coot Fulica atra in Turkey. Turna 1: 31.
Magnin, G. Common Raven Corvus corax
migration over Istanbul. Turna 1: 31.
Szekely, T. The significance of Tuzla G6lu,
Cukurova Delta for shorebirds: a concise
progress report. Turna 1: 28-30.
Welch, G. & Welch, H. Results of a survey of
wintering waterbirds along the Turkish Black
Sea coast—16 January to 7 February 1997. Turna
1: 16-23.
United Arab Emirates
Hellyer, P. Cattle Egrets using roads for
navigation. Brit. Birds 91: 290-291 [observation
in UAE].
Hirschfeld, E. & Stawarczyk, T. White Stork
with Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in bill. Brit. Birds 91:
281 [observation in UAE].
Richardson, C. Birding in the Emirates. Alula 4:
136-141.
Sheldon, R. & Launay, F. Monitoring Houbara
Bustard Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii distri-
bution, populations and time of occurrence
within the Abu Dhabi Emirate using a network
of local rangers. Bird Conserv. International 8: 1-9.
Yemen
Clouet, M. et al. Contribution a l'étude
ornithologique de l’ile de Socotra. Alauda 66:
235-246.
Kirwan, G. M. Additions to the avifauna of
Socotra and Abd Al-Kuri, with notes on the
occurrence of some resident and migrant
species. Bull. ABC 5: 17-21.
107
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
!
}
3 >a Seawatching in Oman in late 1997 |
i
/ | Af Z A L lA produced the first to third country |
() B| ( / (2 records of Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel
f i fs | (EE y {- 7 Z\ ZA -Oceanodroma monorhis off Mirbat (at 4
least 100 birds from 8-10 November
and four on 3 December), and a single i
off Raysut on 2 December. Another,
—— (4
CY (Om A reported off Ras al Khabba on 2 f
/ ) | / November 1998, awaits ratification. A i
a & & ¢ vy 1
e
———
single Jouanin’s Petrel Bulweria fallax ;
was seen by light at Ras Shu’ab, da
Socotra on 20 November 1997 (Clouet
et al. 1998), the first evidence that this
species may breed in the archipelago,
compiled by as has long been postulated. A pelagic q
out of Mukalla, Yemen on 31 October lt
Guy M. Kirwan if
produced c. 70 Jouanin’s Petrel, 12 a
Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus
Records in Around the Region are published for interest carneipes and two Wilson’s Storm- I
& - 1 ] if
only; their inclusion does not imply acceptance by the petrel Oceanites cecamicus Ol Gy pris a
: 1 S 314 Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris ,
records committee of the relevant country. Some dioweden moreno '
records have been authenticated, including October and an exceptional 2900 were :
most from Cyprus and Oman, and these are Commitee Oi at eee
Kyrenia on 25 October; large counts
usually indicated. All records refer to 1998 forthe caste tonic ducer cane Ie
'
.
unless otherwise stated. Egypt, a Leach’s Storm-petrel O. |
* leucorhoa at Zaranik on 12 March was '
the fourth country record, and three |
;
Records and photographs for Sandgrouse 21 (2) should G anet Silk bases ee ace
be sent, by July 15, to Around the Region, OSME, on the same day. In south Turkey, )
c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire there was an immature Gannet off
Tuzla beach, Ceyhan on 12 April. A
survey of the northern Red Sea islands
of Egypt, which covered 45 of the c. 66
; islands and islets between Hurghada
SG19 2DL, U.K.
re a and the southern Gulf of Suez, during
tute a TR 4-8 July, found recently used Red- |
Oe PUA ; Ee billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
he nests and distinctive juvenile feathers
~, at five sites on two islands.
we Se VARS tti(‘(<é‘( / A Bittern Botaurus stellaris at Abu
Kamal on the Syria—Iraq border on 7
May was unusually late. An |
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
. remained near Sohar, Oman from 19
(_ December 1997-12 March, whilst at
least four Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus
sinensis, a species only recently added |
7 to the Middle East list, were near
Salalah on 29-30 April and presumed
to be breeding. In Turkey, what was {
apparently the first dark phase Little
Egret Egretta garzetta for the country |
was photographed at Mogan Géliion
3 May 1997 (Boyla & Eken 1998). A |
further influx of Black-headed Heron .
Ardea melanocephala into Yemen
appears to have occurred recently:
three were at Taizz sewage lagoons on
27 October and eight juveniles were at |
nearby Taizz dam marsh on 28
October, whilst two adults were at the
now traditional site of Aden the next
sons
Bee-eaters
Merops apiaster day. Further Yemen records of Sacred
7 by D. Powell Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus involved
108 Guy M. Kirwan
J /
Around the Region
Plate 1. Brown Boobies Sula leucogaster Red Sea, Egypt, July 1998. (Andrew Grieve).
two adults at Hodeidah sewage
lagoons on 31 March, one there on 1
October (The Lammergeier 21: 12) and
up to two adults at Aden marsh on
4-5 April and a single there on 29
October. Up to four adult African
Spoonbill Platalea alba were also at
Aden on the same dates, with one
still present on 29 October. Only nine
pairs of Spoonbill P. leucorodia were
found nesting, compared to c. 20
pairs in 1983/84, during the Egyptian
Red Sea islands survey. In UAE, the
fifth record of Black Stork Ciconia
nigra was Of one at Dhaya on 21-26
November. A Red-breasted Goose
Branta ruficollis was shot at Terkos
G6olu, near Istanbul on 1 January
1997, one of three Turkish records in
early 1997. A significant immigration
of swans occurred at the same time
with impressive totals of 1000 Mute
Cygnus olor, 1200 Whooper C. cygnus
and 50 Bewick’s Swans C.
columbianus at the Merig delta on 25
January 1997, and elsewhere in the
country there were 35 Marbled Teal
Marmaronetta angustirostris at
Cukurova delta on 9 February 1997
and a single at the Gdksu delta on 8
_ February 1997. Winter records of this
species are now rare, but were
overshadowed by 121 birds counted
Guy M. Kirwan
at Sultan marshes on 22 September
1997, one of the highest ever counts
away from the south coast (Boyla &
Eken 1998). In south Iraq, surveys for
Marbled Teal in June-July 1997 found
a total of 699 birds at seven sites and
56 nests at four of these (Al-Robbae
1998). Up to three Marbled Teal at
Sabkha al Fasl on 28 August—4
September was only the second
record in the Eastern Province of
Saudi Arabia. Three Red-crested
Pochard Netta rufina at Khor Salalah,
Oman on 30 April were unusually
late. The maximum count of White-
headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala at
Burdur Golu in 1997 was just 846
birds, on 16 November. More encour-
agingly, a nearby lake—Soganli
Golu-—was found to hold both
Ferruginous Aythya nyroca and
White-headed Ducks during the
breeding season (TWSG News 11: 10).
A Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis
ptilorhynchus was at Khor Dubai in
late November: the species appears to
be becoming almost regular in UAE.
Nearby, the ninth UAE record of
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
was at Ras al Khaimah on 18
November. An immature Gabar
Goshawk Micronisus gabar was at
Taiz sewage lagoons, Yemen on 7
October. Interesting raptor reports
from Oman include the third records
of Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus
leucoryphus, an immature at Muscat
rubbish dump from 6 November
1997-12 March, and Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax, at least three at the same
place from 9-11 November 1997, and
the sixth record of Shikra Accipiter
badius, one at Ain Hamran on 6
November 1997 (with another at
Wadi Hinna on 9 November awaiting
ratification). The third Goshawk A.
gentilis in Kuwait was found dead at
Tulha on 19 October (Birding World
11: 420). In the UAE, the first White-
eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa was
reported at the Emirates golf course
from mid-September until at least
mid-October. Two Lesser Spotted
Eagle Aquila pomarina were at Taizz
sewage lagoons on 28 October; the
species has only recently been
recorded in Yemen. Two raptors have
recently been added to the list of
birds recorded on Socotra: a Black
Kite Milvus migrans was seen on
Hadibu plain on 15 November 1997,
and a_ total of seven Eleonora’s
Falcon Falco eleonorae was seen on 14
and 16 November 1997 (Clouet ef al.
1998). A juvenile Sooty Falcon F.
109
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
concolor was near Al Qutay, Yemen
on 23 October.
In Yemen, up to 15 Harlequin Quail
Coturnix delegorguei were heard
calling in the Al Qutay and As
Sukhna area on 24 October. In
southern Yemen, two Helmeted
Guineafowl Numida meleagris heard
at Wadi Turbah on 6 April appear to
be a minor range extension. A White-
breasted Waterhen Amaurornis
phoenicurus was at Khor Rouri,
southern Oman on 29 April, a
Common Crane Grus grus was at
Mugsayl on 29 November 1997 and a
single Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides
virgo was at Muscat sewage farm on
22 October 1997. The eighth record of
White-breasted Waterhen in UAE
was at the Emirates golf course on
21-23 November. The third Houbara
Bustard Chlamydotis undulata for
Cyprus, a first-year, was at Spiros
Pool, Larnaca on 24 November
(Birding World 11: 419).
The sixth and seventh records of
Great Stone Plover Esacus recurvi-
rostris were reported in Oman this
autumn: singles at Daghmar on 2
November and north of Schnass on 5
November. A Cream-coloured
Courser Cursorius cursor at Tuzla
Golti, Cukurova delta on 24 May 1997
was an unusual record for this well-
watched Turkish site (Székely 1998).
At Aden marsh, Yemen during 4-5
April, there were singles of Collared
Pratincole Glareola pratincola and
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
and up to 50 Ruff Philomachus pugnax
and 45 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa
limosa. The fifth record of Black-
winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
in Yemen invoived at least one near
Al Qutay on 25 October, and there
were five White-tailed Plover
Chettusia leacura at Aden marsh on 29
October. Breeding of Greater Sand
Plover Charadrius leschenaultii has not
been recorded in Saudi Arabia, but
one was seen injury-feigning at
Fanateer Island, Jubail in early June.
There was a record Omani count of
48 Caspian Plover C. asiaticus near
Sohar on 4 September 1997 and the
eighth record in Turkey was of one at
Kulu Golii on 29 July; the most recent
record was of two at Bulanik in early ~
1991 (Kirwan & Martins 1994). Three
or four Dotterel Charadrius morinellus
were at Kulu Géliti on 25 September
1997; virtually all Turkish records of
this species are from the Central
Plateau (Boyla & Eken 1998). The
5-7th records of Spur-winged Plover
110
Hoplopterus spinosus in Oman
involved two at Sohar on 2
November 1997 and singles at Sohar
on 19 December 1997-31 January and
Barka on 8 February. Red-wattled
Plover H. indicus continues to be seen
at the species’ only regular Western
Palearctic site, Cizre in south-east
Turkey. A Long-toed Stint Calidris
subminuta was at Hatta Lake, UAE on
6 November and an adult was near
Al Qutay, Yemen on 25 October. In
Israel, the first Israeli and second
Middle Eastern record of White-
rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis,
a juvenile, was reported at Ma’agan
Mikhael on 29 September, and,
nearby a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper
C. melanotos was at Bet Shean Valley
fishponds on 17 and 29 September,
the fifth country record. A Great
Snipe Gallinago media was at Lake
Qarun, Egypt on 8 March. The
species is a scarce spring migrant
through the country. Rarer was
Israel’s second Pintail Snipe G.
stenura: one well-watched at Kfar
Ruppin on 19-22 November, and
ringed on the final date. A Woodcock
Scolopax rusticola at Ain Razat on 1
December 1997 was the first record in
Oman. Full dates for the third Long-
billed Dowitcher Limnodromus
scolopaceus in Oman and the Middle
East were 7 November-19 December
1997 (see Sandgrouse 20: 78). Another,
or the same, was (re) discovered at
Sohar Sun Farms on 6 November
1998. More exciting was the first
report in Arabia since 1986 of
Pectoral Sandpiper: two at Hatta lake,
UAE on 27-28 October. The first Far
Eastern Curlew Numenius madagas-
cariensis in Oman, and possibly the
Middle East (see Porter et al. 1996)
was at Barr Al Hikman on 23 October
1997. The third Wilson’s Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor in Oman was at
East Khor, Salalah on 18 September
1997 and a Grey Phalarope P. fulicaria
was at Kfar Ruppin, Israel from early
November to early December at least.
An Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii
was at Zaranik on 12 March. There
are few spring records in Egypt. The
sixth record of Little Gull L. minutus
in Jordan involved a juvenile in the
Gulf of Aqaba on 24 October. Recent
interesting gull records in Turkey
include: single Great Black-backed
Gulls L. marinus at Goksu delta on 11
February 1997 and Hirfanli Baraji on
14 May 1997, with four at Tuzla Golt
on 22 April 1997, and a Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla in Izmir bay on 11
January 1997 (Boyla & Eken 1998).
Another Kittiwake was seen in
Istanbul on 26 September. Additional
results from the July survey of the
Egyptian Red Sea islands included
the discovery of 97 pairs of Sooty
Gull Larus hemprichti on 13 islands,
an increase on c. 50 pairs in 1983/84;
2,151 pairs of White-eyed Gull L.
leucopthalmus on 12 islands and a total
population estimate of c. 3000 pairs
(50% increase on 1983/84 and
representing c. 30% of the world
population); 150 pairs of Swift Tern
Sterna bergii with eggs, young or
about to lay, at four colonies, the
largest holding 125 pairs; and three
pairs of Little Tern Sterna albifons
nest scraping and displaying
amongst a mixed tern colony on a
small sandy islet, the first breeding
evidence in this part of Egypt. The
first reports of Little Tern were made
_in Yemen: one at Al Fazzah on 1
April with one at Qutay ponds and
two at Hodeidah harbour on 1
October (The Lammergeier 21: 13). In
the UAE, there was a Black Tern
Chlidonias niger at Ramtha lagoons on
19 July, the fifth country record, and
this was swiftly followed by the sixth
record, one at Khor Kalba on 24 July.
In Yemen, a pair of Lichtenstein’s
Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii at
Wadi Al Wagr on 2 April constitute a
minor range extension. A flock of 130
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse P. alchata at
Van on 30 July was the first record in
east Anatolia and a range extension
of c. 200 km, but one near Khor Dubai
on 30 October was only the second
record in UAE. A Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus at Abu Kamal,
Syria on 7 May was a late migrant
and the first May record in the
country. Three Rufous Turtle Dove
Streptopelia orientalis were reported in
Oman in late 1997: singles at Sohar on
4 November, Wadi Darbit on 6
November and Salalah on 9
November; and, in Israel, there was a
report of an immature, of the race
meena, at Kfar Ruppin on 19
November. A Namaqua Dove Oena
capensis at Paphos on 16 April has
already been accepted as the first
record in Cyprus (Birding World 11:
381) and a male at Aqaba sewage
farm on 23 October was a rarity in
Jordan, where there are very few
autumn records. A total of eight
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
was reported in Yemen this autumn:
six calling near Mansuriah on 1
October and two near Bait al Fagih
the next day (The Lammergeier 21: 13).
The first record of Alexandrine
Guy M. Kirwan ©
Parakeet Psittacula eupatria in
Turkey—presumably an ecape—was
with eight Ring-necked Parakeet P.
krameri at Ankara zoo on 20 February
(Boyla et al. 1998). The seventh Omani
record of Nubian Nightjar
Caprimulgus nubicus involved one at
Ain Hamran on 15 April, whilst the
fourth and fifth records of Egyptian
Nightjar C. aegyptius in Kuwait were
of one north of Qaisat on 19 October
and two dead at the same locality on
13 November (Birding World 11: 420).
The 16th record of Alpine Swift Apus
melba in UAE involved two birds
north of Ras al Khaimah on 17
September, a Little Swift A. affinis
was over Ramtha on 31 October, and
the fifth country record of White-
breasted Kingfisher Halcyon
smyrnensis was at Ras al Khaimah on
22-23 October. A White-breasted
Kingfisher at Qatif on 13 February
was approximately the seventh
record for the Eastern Province of
Saudi Arabia. In Turkey, there was a
report of a Grey-headed Woodpecker
Picus canus from Akseki on 5 August,
Plate 2. Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus Red Sea, Egypt, July 1998. (Andrew Grieve).
Around the Region
the first from this locality for a
number of years and still one of the
few records from. the Jaurus
mountains.
Another record of Dunn’s Lark
Eremalauda dunni in Yemen was of
two south of Al Abr and another at
Gebelayn, both localities in the Empty
Quarter, on 3 November. The flock of
over 100 Bimaculated' Lark
Melanocorypha bimaculata was still
present at Sohar, Oman until 24 April
(see Sandgrouse 20: 79) and the third
record in Yemen was of one near Al
Abr on 3 November. The second
Small Skylark Alauda gulgula in
Oman was at Sohar on 1 January and
may have involved one of the two
birds involved in the first record, also
at Sohar, on 31 October—1 November
1997 (Sandgrouse 20: 79), whilst at
least three were reported in the same
area on 5-7 November 1998. In Israel,
there were 14 at Kfar Ruppin from
mid-October into November, one in
the Hula Valley on 18 November, and
two north of Eilat on 22 October—mid-
November at least. Perhaps the most
remarkable record of autumn 1997 in
Oman was the first country and
Middle East record of Streak-throated
Swallow Hirundo fluvicola, an
immature at Muscat sewage farm on
11 and 25 November. The species
occurs from north-east Afghanistan to
central India, and usually descends to
lower elevations in the winter. Given
the recent spate of reports from
eastern Arabia, it .is, perhaps
surprising that there has been only
one previous record of Blyth’s Pipit
Anthus godlewski in Israel; a second
was reported near Kfar Ruppin on
24-25 September. Reports of Olive-
backed Pipit A. hodgsoni in Arabia
this autumn involved the fourth
Kuwait record, at Jahra Farms on 29
October, and up to three in Abu
Dhabi, UAE on 13-14 November.
An Eversmann’s Redstart Phoenicurus
erythronotus was at the Emirates golf
course, UAE, on 22—25 November. A
Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe
cypriaca at Kéycegiz Golii on 16 April
1997 was probably the westernmost
ever record in Turkey (Boyla & Eken
1998), whilst two Pied Wheatear O.
pleschanka at Yesilce on 25 July may
have been indicative of local breeding.
The third Eye-browed Thrush Turdus
obscurus in Arabia and second Omani
record, at Dauka on 13 November,
awaits ratification. From perhaps the
same source were a single Black-
throated Thrush T. ruficollis at Jahra
Farms, Kuwait, on 20 November
(Birding World 11: 420) and one,
possibly two, in Safa Park, UAE, on
19-20 November. In the Eastern
Province of Saudi Arabia there were a
number of interesting reports of
Acrocephalus warblers, including
Moustached Warbler A. melenopogon,
discovered at three potential breeding
sites (Jubail, Khafrah Marsh and
Sabkha al Fasl), and Clamorous Reed
Warbler A. stentoreus which was
found nesting at Khafrah Marsh, only
the second breeding population in
Eastern Province. A male Ménétries’
Warbler Sylvia mystacea at Paphos on
2 May has been accepted as the first
record in Cyprus (Birding World 11:
381). A Garden Warbler S. borin was
at Hodeidah on 1 October (The
Lammergeier 21: 14). At Uludag, one or
two Green Warbler Phylloscopus
nitidus on 18 July are the westernmost
record in Turkey and may indicate an
expansion of its breeding range.
Yellow-browed Warblers P. inornatus
reported this autumn included one at
Kibbutz Lotan, Israel, on 30 October
Guy M. Kirwan
111
Sandgrouse 21 (1): 1999
and one in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 13
November. A Mountain Chiffchaff
P. sindianus lorenzi, the second Israel
record, was at Quetura sewage farm
on 31 October. Single Red-breasted
Flycatchers Ficedula parva were at
Petra on 15 October and Rahmeh on
25 October; the species is a rare
migrant through Jordan.
A male Penduline Tit Remiz
pendulinus at Salwa pools, south of
Doha on 16 March 1997 was the first
record in Qatar. Two Great Grey
Shrike Lanius excubitor of the race
pallidirostris were reported in the
Negev, Israel during 12-13 October, a
first-winter was at Zohar Pools, Dead
Sea on 23 October and others were
reported at km 33 north of Eilat and
Kfar Ruppin in late November. An
individual of the same form was
reported at Larnaca sewage works,
Cyprus on 20-23 November, the first
island record if confirmed (Birding
World 11: 419). Following recent
breeding records in Ankara, there
was two, subsequently six Common
Myna Acridotheres tristis at Sirapinar,
Istanbul from 22 June-1 July 1997
(Boyla & Eken 1998). A single
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
at Al Baleed Farm on 13 November
was an unusual record for Palearctic
Oman, and two at Al Wathba on 7
November was the second record in
UAE. Up to 23 Dead Sea Sparrow
Passer moabiticus at Jahra Pool on 6
November was the second record in
Kuwait (Birding World 11: 420). A
flock of 60 Pale Rock Sparrow
Petronia brachydactyla was in the
desert near Al Urj on 24 October, the
fourth record in Yemen. One of the
most remarkable records of the
period under review was the
discovery of at least nine Yemen
Serin Serinus menachensis at Tawi
Atair, in south Oman. Birds were
recorded on 30 #£October-11
November 1997 and photographed
on 29-30 April when nests were
found. Up to 12 were in the same area
on 9 November. This constitutes the
first record in Oman and an extraor-
dinary range extension from extreme
south-west Saudi Arabia and the
former North Yemen. There are two
pre-1950 records from the former
South Yemen, both Meinertzhagen
specimens (Martins et al. 1996), which
must, therefore, be subject to doubt.
In eastern Turkey, up to seven
Mongolian Trumpeter Finch
REFERENCES
Bucanetes mongolicus and two
Trumpeter Finch B. githaginezrs were
at Dogubayazit on 31 July. A major
influx of Hawfrnch Coccothraustes
coccothraustes was reported in Israel:
over 300 were present in Jerusalem in
November with more than 40 ringed
at Beer Sheva and small numbers
reaching the Eilat area. Two first
country records in Jordan were
reported in autumn 1998: two
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus
erythrinus at Safawi Camp on 25
September (with a third bird on 27
September) and a male Red-headed
Bunting Emberiza bruniceps at the -
same locality on 24 September. Three
Rock Bunting E. cia were reported at
Kyrenia harbour on 10 November,
the seventh record (and first since
1974) for Cyprus if confirmed (Birding
World 11: 419). A Rustic Bunting E.
_rustica was photographed at Eilat
sewage pools on 8 November.
BoyLa, K. A., AYDEMIR, G. O. AND EKEN, G. (1998) The status and distribution of Ring-necked Parakeet
Psittacula krameri in Turkey. Turna 1: 24-27.
BoyLa, K. A. AND EKEN, G. (1998) Remarkable sightings. Turna 1: 35-40.
CLOUET, M., Goak, J.-L. AND BARRAU, C. (1998) Contribution a l’étude ornithologique de l’ile de Socotra.
Alauda 66: 235-246.
EKEN, G. AND MAGNIN, G. (in prep.) A preliminary biodiversity atlas of the Konya basin, cheval Turkey.
Dogal Hayati Koruma Dernegi, Istanbul.
KiRWAN, G. M. AND MARTINS, R. P. (1994) Turkey bird report 1987-91. Sandgrouse 16: 76-117.
MaRrTINS, R. P., BRADSHAW, C. G., BROWN, A., KIRWAN, G. M. AND PorTER, R. F. (1996) The status of passerines
in southern Yemen and the records of the OSME survey in spring 1993. Sandgrouse 17: 54-72.
PORTER, R. F., CHRISTENSEN, S. AND SCHIARMACKER-HANSEN, P. (1996) Field guide to the birds of the Middle East.
T. & A. D. Poyser, London.
AL-RossaE, K. (1998) The status of Marbled Teal in Iraq. Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group News 11: 31-32.
SZEKELY, T. (1998) The significance of Tuzla Golii, Cukurova Delta for shorebirds: a concise progress report.
Turna 1: 28-30.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following have assisted in the compilation of this review: Simon Aspinall, Chris Bradshaw, Jamie
Buchan, G. Eken, Dave Farrow (Birdquest), Peter Flint, Andrew Grieve, Phil Hansbro, Erik Hirschfeld
(AviFauna), Steve James, Adrian Jordi, R. de Liedekerke, Brian Meadows, Linda Millington, Richard Porter,
Dave Sargeant (on behalf of the Oman Bird Records Committee), James Smith (Lotan Tours), E. Tamas and B.
M. Zold.
Guy M. Kirwan, 55 West End Street, Norwich NR2 4DP, U. K.
12
Guy M. Kirwan
?
|
|
|
|
}
%
/
f
Birdfinders
Are pleased to sponsor OSME
We visit Israel every year
In spring 1998 we recorded 181 species in one week
at Eilat! Rarities recorded in Israel on our tours have
included Soft Plumaged Petrel, Nubian Nightjar,
Black Bush Robin, Red-tailed Wheatear, Basra Reed
Warbler, Grey Hypocolius and Cinereous Bunting.
Other destinations we visit include
Europe - Czech Rep e Eire © Poland ¢ Romania e Spain & Portugal « Lesvos
Canaries e Hungary e France (La Brenne & Lakes) e Finland & Norway
Asia - India e Kazakhstan e Turkey
Australasia - New Zealand & Sub-Antarctic Islands
Africa - Cape Verdes e The Gambia e Morocco e Tanzania e Zimbabwe
North America - Arizona e California e Canada e Texas
South America - Costa Rica e Ecuador/Galapagos e Peru e Trinidad & Tobago
Low prices and great birding
For free brochure & tour reports contact
DORSET, DT9 6DY, ENGLAND
TEL/FAX: (01935) 817001
E-MAIL: Birdfinders@compuserve.com
WEB: http://www.theoffice.net/birdfinders
AGENTS FOR WILDWINGS (BAKERS WORLD TRAVEL LIMITED) ATOL NUMBER 2792
& Sunbird|9
The best of birdwatching tours
For 19 years Sunbird has been organising professionally-led and excellent
value birdwatching tours throughout the world. With details of over 170 tours,
covering six continents, our new brochure has something for everyone. To find
out what you could be watching in 1999, write for your free copy to: ;
Sunbird OS, PO Box 76, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DF, Great Britain.
Telephone: 01767-682969. Fax: 01767-692481.
Email: sunbird @sunbird.demon.co.uk
www.sunbird.demon.co.uk
Sunbird is a trading name of Conderbury Limited.
oat
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11